BIDDEFORD, Maine – Sophomore
Brady Saunders (Brewer, Maine) hit a pair of free throws with four seconds remaining to lift the University of Southern Maine Huskies to a nail-biting 78-77 win over the University of New England Nor'easters in a non-conference men's basketball game Wednesday night at Alfond Arena.
The Huskies led by as many as 17 points in the contest, but found themselves trailing UNE 77-76 with nine seconds to play in regulation. Saunders two free throws with four seconds remaining delivered the win, and gave the Huskies' guard 15 points on the night as one of four USM players in double-figures. Junior
Thomas Whelan (Bronx, N.Y./Fordham Prep) tied for game-high honors with 24 points and nine rebounds, while graduate student
Bryce Lausier (Glenburn, Maine/Hampden Academy) had a monster double-double with 22 points and 14 rebounds. Junior
Diego Colon (New Braunfels, Texas) added 10 points.
The Records:
Southern Maine (2-0)
University of New England (1-1)
Today's game marks the 63
rd meeting between the University of Southern Maine and the University of New England. The Huskies lead the overall series 48-15 and have won the last six consecutively.
How It Happened:
- Shooting 46.2 percent (18-for-39) in the first half, Southern Maine jumped out to a 42-32 lead at the half. The Huskies led by as many as 17 points, 39-22, with 3:25 until the halftime break, but UNE closed out the half on a 10-2 run to make it a 10-point game. Lausier had 13 of his 22 points in the first half, while Whelan had 12, and Saunders had 10.
- A layup from Whelan with 16:33 on the clock in the second half gave the Huskies a solid 54-39 lead, but the Nor'easters countered with a 12-6 run over the next five minutes to cut its deficit in half and trail 58-51. Adam Lux had 10 of UNE's 12 points in the run.
- Both teams battled back and fourth over the next four minutes and Whelan kept the Huskies in a double-digit lead with a driving layup with 7:32 to go for a 67-57 score.
- UNE continued to chip away at the Huskies lead and pulled to within two possession, 70-64, with 5:01 to play following one of two free throws from Adrian Torres.
- After lost possessions on both sides, Lausier hit a three for a 73-64 Husky advantage with just over four minutes remaining. However, the Nor'easters charged ahead with a 9-2 run to make it a one-possession game 75-72 following a three from Lux with 2:16 on the clock.
- With neither team finding the bottom of the basket over the next 90 seconds, Whelan made one of two free throws to give USM a marginal 76-73 lead with 41 seconds to play. UNE's Lux continued to play strong making a driving layup on the Nor'easters next possession before putting UNE up 77-76 with another layup following a steal from Jimmy Hulland with nine seconds to go.
- After a timeout, the Huskies took their last possession and Saunders drew the foul. Stepping to the line, Saunders calmly made both free throws for the win, and UNE's last shot attempt missed the mark.
Inside The Stats:
- Southern Maine finished the game shooting 44.1 percent (30-for-68) from the field and 33.3 percent (9-for-27) from three. UNE shot 40.3 percent (29-for-72) from the floor, and 27.3 percent from three (6-for-22). USM sot 75 percent from the free throw line (9-for-12). The Nor'easter shot just 54.2 percent from the free throw line but had more attempts going 13-for-24.
- Led by Lausier's 14 rebounds, the Huskies had.a slight 46-41 lead in boards.
- The Huskies committed 23 turnovers in the game, and UNE scored 20 of its 77 points off of Husky miscues.
Up Next:
Southern Maine is on the road for its next two contests and travels to Nichols College on Saturday, November 16 (2:00 pm), and UMaine Farmington on Wednesday (7:00 pm). The Huskies will host Bates College on Tuesday, November 26 (7:30 pm).
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