GORHAM, Maine – Sophomore
Tommy Whelan (Bronx, N.Y./Fordham Prep) scored a career-high 23 points to lead four players in double figures as the University of Southern Maine Huskies rolled to an 87-73 season-opening win over the University of New England Nor'easters in a non-conference men's basketball game Wednesday night at Hill Gymnasium.
Whelan was 8-for-13 from the field, adding five rebounds, three assists and three blocked shots. Senior
Chance Dixon (Lake Worth, Fla./Santaluces) added 20 points, five rebounds and four assists. Sophomore
Joe Longoria (New Braunfels, Texas) had 16 points and a team-high eight rebounds, while freshman
Brady Saunders (Brewer, Maine) tossed in 12 points, adding four rebounds, two assists, and four steals in an impressive intercollegiate debut.
The Records:
University of New England (0-1)
Southern Maine (1-0)
How It Happened:
- Locked in a close game, Southern Maine held a slim 14-13 midway through the first half, the Huskies went on a 12-0 run to take control and lead 26-13 with 9:01. Four different players scored for the Huskies' in the run, including freshman Justin Allen (Franklin, Mass.) three.
- UNE stemmed the run with a layup from Kyle Lombardi, but the Huskies outscored the Nor'easters 22-11 to close the half and take a solid 46-28 lead into the break. Whelan and Longoria each had 12 points in the first half, as Southern Maine shot 51.6 percent (16-for-31) from the field.
- UNE pulled to within nine of the Huskies to open the second half with a 16-7 run over the first five minutes to trail 53-44 on a layup from Adrian Torres with 15:50 to go, but USM bounced back with a quick six points on a traditional three-point play from Dixon and a three from freshman Montrell Bell (Orlando, Fla./Bishop Moore Catholic) for a 59-44 lead.
- A pair of free throws from UNE's Adam Lux made it a 66-56 game with 11:50 to play, putting the Nor'easters within reach, but the Huskies again answered with a run. The Huskies outscored UNE 12-2 over the next four minutes to lead 78-58, capped by a three from Whelan. From there the Huskies led by as many as 21 points, 82-61, with just over four minutes to play to seal the win.
Inside The Stats:
- Southern Maine finished the game shooting 46.3 percent (31-for-67) from the field and 41.7 percent (10-for-24) from three. Nearly half of the Huskies shots were assisted led by four from Dixon.
- All nine of the Huskies who entered the game scored.
- UNE shot well, hitting 44.8 percent (30-for-67) from the field, making seven threes.
Up Next:
Southern Maine hosts Maine Maritime Academy on Monday (7:00 pm). The Huskies are back in action on Wednesday (7:30 pm) against Saint Joseph's College and then will hit the road for a game at UMaine Presque Isle on Saturday.
-cac-
