Box Score CASTINE, Maine – Senior James Starks III (Miami, Fla./Miami Killian) recorded his seventh double-double of the season with 25 points and 16 rebounds, both game-high totals, to lead the University of Southern Maine Huskies over the Maine Maritime Academy Mariners 71-57 in a non-conference men's basketball game Wednesday night at Smith Gymnasium.
With the win, Southern Maine stops a three-game skid and improves to 5-8 on the season. Maine Maritime sees its two-game win streak come to an end and drops to 3-8 on the season.
Starks was 10-for-16 from the field and 5-of-6 from the free throw line for the game-high 25 points, adding three assists, three blocked shots and a steal to compliment his 16 rebounds. Junior Christian McCue (Hampden, Maine/Hampden Academy) added 21 points sinking a season-best six three-pointers. Senior Jalen Lincoln (Nobleboro, Maine/Lincoln Academy) set career highs in rebounding and assists to notch a unique double-double with 12 rebounds and 10 assists. Senior Jacob Littlefield (Mechanic Falls, Maine/Poland Regional) added nine points, seven rebounds and five assists.
Tyler Thayer led three players in double figures for MMA, scoring 18 points. Nicholas DePatsy had a double-double with 12 points and 10 rebounds, while Brendan Newcomb added 11 points.
Starks and McCue combined for 25 of the Huskies 35 first half points as USM narrowly led the Mariners 35-31 at the break. USM was up 32-24 with 2:49 left in the half after a tip-in from Littlefield, but MMA closed the gap in the final minutes outscoring USM 7-3 to make it a two-possession game.
The game remained close for the opening minutes of the second half. MMA cut the Huskies' lead to four on a pair of free throws from Newcomb for a 42-38 deficit with 16:10 to go before USM used an 11-2 run to pull away from the Mariners for a 53-40 lead with 9:44 to go. The Mariners never got closer than seven points the rest of the way as USM held for the win.
Southern Maine returns to Little East Conference action on Saturday (3:00 p.m.) when it travels to Keene State. Maine Maritime travels to Husson on Saturday (1:00 p.m.) for a North Atlantic Conference.
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