BOSTON  – Charles Mitchell scored 18 points to lead three players in double-figures as the UMass Boston Beacons used a pivotal first half run to defeat the University of Southern Maine Huskies 70-51 in a Little East Conference men's basketball game Wednesday evening at Clark Athletic Center.
 
Mitchell was 50 percent (7-for-14) from the field and 40 percent (4-for-10) from three-point range for the Beacons.
 
The game was the first in more than a month for the Huskies, who last played a game on December 11, 2021 – a 73-69 win over Castleton University.
 
The Records: 
Southern Maine (6-7, 1-3 Little East)
UMass Boston (6-8, 2-4 Little East)
 
Series History: Competing against each other for the 109^th time in series history Southern Maine entered the game leading the Beacons overall 65-43. However, UMass Boston has won seven of the last eight contests between the two schools with tonight's win. The series record is now 65-44.

Standout Huskies:  Sophomore Trevor Ward (West Park, Fla./McArthur) 17 points, 8 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 steals; Junior Cody Hawes (Carmel, Maine/Hermon) 10 points, 5 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 blocked shot, 1 steal; Sophomore Chance Dixon (Lake Worth, Fla./Santaluces) 10 points, 3 rebound, 3 assists.
 
Standout Beacons: Charles Mitchell 18 points, 5 rebounds; Malik Lorquet 16 points, 8 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 blocked shots; Stephen DiGregorio 12 points, 5 rebounds.  
 
How It Happened: 

• With the game tied at 22 following a three from the Huskies' Ward with 4:51 to play in the first, UMass Boston outscored USM 15-4 to close out the half and take a 37-26 lead at the break. After Ward's three, UMB scored 15 unanswered points. Charles Mitchell had seven points for the Beacons, and Malik Brooms had five in the run.
• Down by 14 early in the second half (42-28), Southern Maine scored seven unanswered points on a traditional three-point play from Hawes, and back-to-back layups from Ward and junior Marcus Christopher (Skowhegan, Maine) to make it a seven point disadvantage (42-35) with 15:51 on the clock, but the Beacons responded a 9-1 spurt to regain a double-digit lead 51-36 with just over 12 to go.
• After the 9-1 run, USM was unable to get closer than 12 points the rest of the way for the 70-51 final.

 
Inside the Stats: 

•  USM shot 35.7 percent from the field (20-for-56); UMass Boston shot 46.2 percent (24-for-52).  The Beacons had a large advantage in free throws made and attempted.  UMB was 16-for-24 from the line while USM was 4-for-6.

 
Up Next: 
Southern Maine returns to action on Saturday against Little East Conference opponent Keene State.  KSC defeated USM in the first game of the series.   
 
 
 Southern Maine Athletics has gone to fully digital game programs, please click this link to access the game programs to future Husky home events!