Box Score PLYMOUTH, N.H. – Freshman Curtis Arsenault (Berlin, N.H./Philips Exeter) scored 11 of his team-high 14 points in the second half to lead the Plymouth State University Panthers to a narrow 64-62 win over the University of Southern Maine Huskies in a Little East Conference men's basketball game Tuesday night at Foley Gym.
With the win, Plymouth State improves to 11-11 overall and 5-6 in the Little East. Southern Maine slides to 6-16 and 2-9 in the Little East.
Arsenault scored five of his 14 points in the final minutes of action to help the Panthers fend off a surging USM squad. Arsenault was 5-for-10 from the field and a perfect 3-for-3 from three-point territory for his team-high total, adding five rebounds. Freshmen Jack Preston (Nashua, N.H./Nashua South) and Logan Kesty (New Boston, N.H./Bishop Guertin) each scored 11 points for PSU.
Southern Maine sophomore Jacob Littlefield (Mechanic Falls, Maine/Poland) led all scorers with 15 points off of the bench. Littlefield was 7-for-11 from the floor. Senior Tyler Penney (Barnstead, N.H./Bishop Brady) added 10 points and seven rebounds. Senior Conor Sullivan (Scarborough, Maine), sophomore Sean Caddigan (Bethel, Maine/Telstar) and freshman Fred Knight (Hampden, Maine/Hampden Academy) each scored eight points. Sullivan added a team-high nine rebounds.
Trailing by nine, 55-46, with 12 minutes remaining in regulation, the Huskies mounted a come-back bid. Knight and Littlefield scored back-to-back layups over the Huskies' next two possessions to make it a two point game, 55-50, with 11:30 to play before scoring took a vacation for both squads over the next five minutes. During that time, both teams combined for an 0-for-8 mark from the field with a pair of turnovers.
With its five-point lead in tact, PSU got a boost from Arsenault's third three of the game to extend their lead to 58-50 with 6:46 on the clock. Both teams traded points over the next two minutes and a pair of Preston free throws made it 64-56 in favor of PSU with 4:01 to play. The Huskies then rattled off six unanswered points to pull themselves to within a basket of the Panthers. Littlefield connected on a jumper, before Knight sank to free throws and then converted a layup with 1:22 on the clock for a 64-62 game. The Panthers had two looks at the basket in their next possession thanks to a Preston offensive board, but Sullivan came up with a block and a rebound to return the ball to the Huskies with 18 seconds on the clock. USM had a chance with time winding down but was unable to connect as the Panthers pulled out the win.
Southern Maine hosts Rhode Island College on Saturday (3:00 p.m.). The Huskies will be playing in a "Think Pink" game to raise funds and awareness for Cancer Research. All funds raised will be donated to the American Cancer Society. USM will host a 50/50 raffle and will be selling "Think Pink" t-shirts. Plymouth State hosts UMass Boston on Saturday (3:00 p.m.).
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