BIDDEFORD, Maine  – Senior guard Cody Hawes (Carmel, Maine/Hermon) scored a game-high 14 points to lead three players in double figures as the University of Southern Maine Huskies held off the University of New England Noresasters for a season-opening win in non-conference men's basketball action Tuesday night at Harold Alfond Forum. 
 
Southern Maine defeated UNE 61-57 as Hawes went 7-for-12 from the field with six rebounds, three assists, two steals and a blocked shot.
 
The Records:
Southern Maine (1-0)
University of New England (0-1)
 
How It Happened:

• Leading 18-14 with 3:08 to play in the first half, Southern Maine snagged a solid 27-16 halftime advantage outscoring the Noreasters 9-2 before the break, including seven unanswered.  Junior Chance Dixon (Lake Worth, Fla.) scored five of the Huskies final seven points in the half, on a three and a jumper.   
• USM's run extended after the break as Hawes and junior Simon Chadbourne (Westbrook, Maine) combined for the first five points of the second half to give Southern Maine its largest lead of the game 32-16 with 19:05 to play.
• Despite a few surges from UNE, the Huskies remained in front of the Noreasters and led 52-37 with 6:38 remaining on the clock following a three from sophomore Juneau Anicette (Orlando, Fla./Dr. Phillips).
• UNE bounced back however, outscoring USM 10-2 over the next three minutes to trail 54-47 after a traditional three-point play from Ray Evans.
• Hawes answered for the Huskies with a dunk for his 14^th points of the game. UNE scored the next five for a two possession game 56-52 with 1:42 to play highlighted by a three from Winston Bryan.
• USM junior Clay Kuhn (Orlando, Fla./Winter Park) gave the Huskies some breathing room with a three on the next possession; however, three free throws from Ray Evans put the Noreasters right back into a one possession game, 59-57, 30 second to go.
• The Huskies turned the ball over on their next possession giving UNE another shot, but USM was able to defend the half court well enough and Anicette scored on a Hawes assist as the buzzer sounded for the 61-57 final.

 
Inside The Stats:

• USM shot 44.1 percent (26-for-59) from the field in the contest. 
• Freshman Tommy Whelan (Bronx, N.Y./Fordham Prep) and Diego Colon (New Braunfels, Texas) each scored 10 points in their intercollegiate debut. Whelan was 5-for-8 from the floor, while Colon was 4-for-7 adding four rebounds.
• Senior Jason Lombard (Anchorage, Alaska) had a team-high 11 rebounds as USM outrebounded UNE 42-37. 

 
Up Next:
Southern Maine hosts non-conference opponent Thomas College on Saturday (3:00 pm).