GORHAM, Maine –  Senior Cole Libby (Buxton, Maine/Bonny Eagle) was deadly from three-point range scoring a game-high 20 points to lead four players in double figures as the University of Southern Maine Huskies defeated the UMass Boston Beacons 74-53 in a Little East Conference men's basketball game Wednesday night at Fifield Court.

With the win, Southern Maine remains tied for second place in the Little East Conference with a 7-4 mark and a 13-9 overall record.  UMass Boston falls to 6-15 overall and 2-9 in the conference.

Libby was 5-for-7 from three-point territory and 5-for-6 from the free throw line for his game-high 20.  He added six rebounds, four steals and an assist.  Senior Aaron Toman (Gardiner, Maine) continued his strong play off of the bench tossing in 16 points on 5-for-9 shooting, while junior Atencio Martin (Kittery, Maine/Traip Academy) added 13 points, seven rebounds, three assists and a blocked shot.  Junior Zach Leal (York, Maine) tossed in 11 points, and had four rebounds, four assists and four blocked shots. 

UMass Boston had balanced scoring throughout its line up and was led by nine points and eight rebounds from junior Sam Freeman (Boston, Mass./Southeastern Regional).  Senior Selim Omerovic (Saugus, Mass.) added eight points on 3-for-5 shooting, while sophomore Iser Barnes (Boston, Mass./Charlestown) and senior Quadry Allen (White Castle, La.) each scored four points. 

Ahead 23-21 with 4:04 remaining in the first half, Southern Maine headed into the halftime break with a 10-point lead closing the half on a 12-4 run.  Libby and Martin each hit threes in the run, while senior Jose Nouchanthavong (Westbrook, Maine) scored four of his eight points in the final 24 seconds of the first.

Southern Maine remained comfortably in front of the Beacons in the second half.  UMB made it a two-possession game, 54-48, after a steal and a layup from Barnes at the 8:32 mark, but USM rattled off an 11-0 run over the next three minutes to seal the win, snagging an insurmountable 65-48 lead with 5:52 to play.  Toman was outstanding in the run for the Huskies, scoring nine points.  From there USM never let the Beacons get any closer than 17 the rest of the way en route to the 74-53 win.

Southern Maine hosts Rhode Island College on Saturday (3:00 p.m.) in a Little East Conference game.  UMass Boston travels to Plymouth State (3:00 p.m.). 

–cac–