Box Score WILLIMANTIC, Conn. – Brian Salzillo scored a game-high 23 points to lead three players in double-figures as the Eastern Connecticut State University Warriors defeated the University of Southern Maine Huskies 69-59 in a Little East Conference men's basketball game Saturday afternoon at Geissler Gymnasium.
Eastern Connecticut improves to 11-4 overall with its third straight win and remains undefeated in the Little East at 5-0. Southern Maine drops to 5-10 overall and 1-4 in the Little East.
Salzillo was 7-for-19 from the field knocking down six three-pointers to lead the Warriors. Kevin Leumene came off the bench for 17 points, while Mike Garrow chipped in with 12 points, six rebounds and five assists.
Southern Maine sophomore Cole Libby (Buxton, Maine/Bonny Eagle) led the Huskies with 20 points and six rebounds. Libby was 8-for-15 from the field including a solid 3-for-5 from three-point range. Senior Conor Sullivan (Scarborough, Maine) added 10 points and five rebounds, while senior James Odneal (Pontiac, Mich.) chipped in with nine points, nine rebounds and three assists.
After a closely contested opening half, Eastern Connecticut held a slim 33-31 lead over the Huskies at the break. The game remained a one-possession contest in the opening six and half minutes of the second half. USM trailed the Warriors by three, 41-38, with 13:39 to play after one of two free throws from Sullivan, before the Warriors used a 13-2 run to open up a 54-40 lead with 9:03 on the clock. Salzillo scored seven of his 23 points in the run.
Libby hit a pair of threes late in the game, but the Huskies' were unable to get any closer than 10 points the rest of the way as the Warriors' run proved to be decisive.
Southern Maine hosts Plymouth State on Tuesday (7:30 p.m.). Eastern Connecticut hosts Keene State on Tuesday (7:30 p.m.).
–cac–
