Box Score GORHAM, Maine – Sophomore Jeremiah Washington (Bridgeport, Conn.) scored 16 points to lead a balanced scoring attack as the Western Connecticut State University Colonials held off a furious second half rally to defeat the University of Southern Maine Huskies 86-76 in a Little East Conference men's basketball match-up Saturday afternoon at Hill Gymnasium.
With the win, the Colonials improve to 7-2 overall and start their LEC schedule at 1-0. Southern Maine drops to 4-4 overall and 1-1 in the Little East.
Washington was 5-for-6 from the field, including a perfect 3-for-3 mark from three-point range to pace the Colonials who shot an outstanding 54.1 percent (33-for-61) from the field. Sophomore Ronnie Underwood (Bridgeport, Conn.) added 11 points and three assists, while junior Luis Bridtter (Stamford, Conn.) added 10 points on 5-for-7 shooting.
Senior Tyler Penney (Barnstead, N.H./Bishop Brady) led all scorers with a career-high 20 points. Penney was 10-for-14 from the field and grabbed a game-high nine rebounds. Penney added a pair of assist, three steals and three blocked shots in an outstanding effort. Sophomore Cole Libby (Buxton, Maine/Bonny Eagle) added 15 points and four assists, while Kyle Pluchino (Coral Springs, Fla.) added 14 points, six assists and four steals. Senior Conor Sullivan (Scarborough, Maine) chipped in with 11 points and six rebounds.
The Colonials came out hot in the first half, shooting a scorching 62.9 percent from the field to build up a commanding 51-35 lead at the break. Washington and Underwood each scored seven points in the half as Western moved the ball well finding high percentage shots. The Colonials also benefitted from a 7-for-9 mark from three-point range in the high scoring half.
Trailing Western Connecticut by 16 points, the Huskies clawed their way back into the game with a fast-paced 19-4 run in the first 6:20 of the second half. Penney was instrumental in the run, scoring eight of his 20 points to tied the score up at 54 with 14:20 to play.
The Colonials responded with a 10-2 run to lead 11:13 to play after a three from Washington, but the Huskies continued to fight and trailed by two, 68-66, with 7:18 to play after a steal and a layup from Pluchino. However, Washington canned a three and Underwood finished a layup in consecutive possessions for the Colonials in a 5-0 spurt to give the Colonials some breathing room, 73-68, with 6:25 to play. The margin hovered between five to seven points in favor of Western Connecticut for the next few minutes.
Western Connecticut led by nine, 80-71, with 2:35 to play after a free throw, before USM made its final push of the game. Pluchino scored the Huskies' next five points consecutively on two free throws and a traditional three-point play for a 80-76 deficit with 1:49 to play, but the Colonials were able force the turnover on the Huskies' next possession and close out the game on the free throw line for the 86-76 win.
Southern Maine travels to UMaine Farmington on Tuesday (7:00 p.m.) for a non-conference game.
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