PRESQUE ISLE, Maine – Senior
Chance Dixon (Lake Worth, Fla.) scored 20 points to lead four players in double-figures as the University of Southern Maine Huskies outlasted the UMaine Presque Isle Owls 87-83 in a non-conference men's basketball game Saturday afternoon at Wieden Gymansium.
The win is the fourth consecutive for the Huskies who are starting 2023-2024 at 4-0. Today's game was the first road contest of the season for Southern Maine. Dixon has scored at least 20 points in three of USM's four games this season. Sophomore
Tommy Whelan (Bronx, N.Y./Fordham Prep) added 19 points, a team-high seven rebounds, and two assists, while freshman
Brady Saunders (Brewer, Maine) added 15 points on 4-for-5 shooting. Fifth-year senior
Cody Hawes (Carmel, Maine/Hermon) was 7-for-14 from the floor for 14 points, five rebounds, and a team-best four assists.
The Records:
Southern Maine (4-0)
UMaine Presque Isle (0-3)
Today's game marked the 15th game in the series between University of Southern Maine and UMaine Presque Isle. Southern Maine leads the series 13-2. The Huskies outlasted UMPI in 2022, 72-70, on November 11. USM has won nine straight over the Owls.
How It Happened:
- Trailing by as many as eight points (34-26) late in the first half, Southern Maine rallied to take a slim 45-44 lead at the end of a high-scoring first half. The Huskies were 8-for-10 from the field during its 19-10 run that spanned the final 5:59 of the half. Seven different Huskies contributed to the late scoring, led by four points each from Whelan and Dixon.
- Hawes scored the first points of the second half for the Huskies with a jumper, but UMPI went on a 7-2 mini-run to snag a 51-49 advantage with 16:57 to go and the game settled into a back and forth contest.
- UMPI's Danny Harris made it a two-point game, 57-55, with 13:53 to play, but the Huskies rattled off an 11-5 run over the next 2:19 to take an eight point, 68-60, lead with just over 11 minutes to go. Sanders scored five of the Huskies' 11 in the run that was capped by a layup from Whelan.
- The Huskies' control of the game was short-lived, however, as the Owls fought back with a 13-4 run, taking a slim 73-72 margin, with 8:05 to play. David Ellington had eight points for the Owls.
- Whelan and Hawes responded for USM with back-to-back buckets to retake the lead, but Southern Maine could not pull away by more than a possession. UMPI's Charlie Mellick made it 78-77 with 5:13 to play, and both teams turned the ball over in ensuring possessions to keep the game tight with under four minutes to play in regulation.
- Dixon gave USM an 80-77 lead with his 20th points of the night, and sophomore Joe Longoria (New Braunfels, Texas) hit a three to push the Huskies up 83-77 with 3:13 to go, but UMPI again made it a one possession game with back-to-back scores from Harris and Myles Jones to trail 83-31 with 1:39 on the clock.
- In the next possessions, both teams converted. Longoria grabbed an offensive rebound in the Huskies' next possession, and Whelan hit a jumper for an 85-81 lead before Harris made it 85-83 with two free throws. With the game in the balance, Longoria again came through in the clutch snagging another offensive board setting up free throws for Saunders who sealed the win 87-86 with seconds remaining.
Inside The Stats:
- Coming off the bench for 13 minutes of playing time, Longoria was 1-for-1 (3FG), and had five rebounds, including three offensive boards, and a steal.
- UMPI outscored USM 14-4 in second chance points; however, all four of USM's second chance points came in the final minutes of play off of Longoria's rebounding efforts.
- Southern Maine shot 59.0 percent (36-for-61) from the field for the game, while UMaine Presque Isle was 49.3 percent (34-for-69).
- Dany Harris led all scorers tossing in 25 points for the Owls, adding seven rebounds. Doug McCalla had 13 points and nine rebounds, while David Ellington added 14 points off of the bench.
- The game featured 28 lead changes and 14 ties.
Up Next:
Southern Maine remains on the road for its next contest and will travel to Bates College on Tuesday (7:30 pm) in a non-conference game. The Huskies return to action at home on Wednesday, November 29 against UMaine Farmington (7:30 pm).
-cac-
