GORHAM, Maine - Securing home court for the 2024 Little East Conference Men's Basketball Championship Quarterfinal with an 84-60 win over Vermont State University Castleton Spartans on Saturday, the University of Southern Maine Huskies' men's basketball team finished its 2023-2024 season with an overall record of 14-11 and 9-7 in the Little East.
The Huskies will be the fourth seed for the Little East Conference tournament and will host fifth-seed Rhode Island College Anchormen on Tuesday, February 20 (7:30 pm) at Hill Gymnasium.. The Huskies are 8-5 at home this season, and 5-3 against Little East Conference opponents. The Huskies are hosting a Little East Conference quarterfinal game for the second consecutive season.
The rest of the field includes defending Little East Conference Champion, and 2024 LEC Regular Season Champion Keene State College. Keene State is ranked 11
th in Division III basketball. Western Connecticut is the second seed, followed by UMass Dartmouth as the third seed. Keene State and Western Connecticut receive a first-round bye in the tournament – should the Huskies advance with a win over Rhode Island College, they would face Keene State on Thursday, February 22 (7:00 pm).
2023 Little East Conference Tournament Championship Field
- Keene State 22-3 (15-1 LEC)
- Western Connecticut 21-4 (14-2 LEC)
- UMass Dartmouth 14-11 (11-5 LEC)
- Southern Maine 14-11 (9-7 LEC)
- Rhode Island College 14-11 (7-9 LEC)
- UMass Boston 7-18 (6-10 LEC)
2024 Little East Conference Championship Quarterfinal
Who: No. 4 Southern Maine vs. No. 5 Rhode Island College
When: Tuesday, February 20, 2024 (7:30 PM)
Where: University of Southern Maine, Gorham, Maine – Hill Gymnasium
What: 2024 Little East Conference Men's Basketball Championship Tournament (Quarterfinal)
No. 4 Southern Maine (14-11, 9-7 LEC)
Championships: 1 (1997)
LEC Tournament Record: 16-29 (.359), 28 appearances
Finals Appearances: 6
Finals Record: 1-5
Last Finals Appearance: 2000
Players to Watch: Chance Dixon, Sr., Guard 17.7 ppg, 3.9 rpg, 2.2 apg, 1.1 spg, 36.2 3FG%;
Tommy Whelan, So., Guard, 16.5 ppg, 5.8 rpg, 2.4 apg, 1.4 spg, 54.3 FG%;
Cody Hawes, Sr., Guard, 11.9 ppg, 6.7 rpg, 4.3 apg, 1.7 spg, 52.0 FG%.
No. 5 Rhode Island College (14-11, 7-9 LEC)
Championships: 6. 2007, 2008, 2010, 2011, 2013, 2014
LEC Tournament Record: 29-27. 32 appearances
Finals Appearances: 9
Finals Record: 6-3
Last Finals Appearance: 2015
Players to Watch: Ousmane Kourouma, 14.3 ppg, 13.8 rpg, 59.8 FG%, 19 double-doubles this season; Isaiah Dahl, 11.9 ppg, 2.2 rpg, 1.1 apg; Deyshawn Tengbeh, 10.7 ppg, 6.2 rpg, 1.8 apg, 1.8 spg.
-cac-
