All five starters scored in double figures--including a career-best 22 by Steve Belmonte--as the Nor'easters opened their TCCC schedule with a convincing win over NEC
Box Score
HENNIKER, N.H. -- University of New England guard #Steve Belmonte# '09 (Levittown, N.Y.) poured in a career-high 22 points to lead all five starters in double figures in the Nor'easters' 99-74 The Commonwealth Coast Conference victory over the New England College Pilgrims Saturday afternooon at Bridges Gymnasium.
The win gets the Nor'easters back over the .500 mark at 7-6 (TCCC), while the loss drops the Pilgrims to 4-8 overall, 0-1 in conference play.
UNE would set the tempo in the early going, scoring the initial eight points of the contest. The Nor'easters utlized another 8-0 spurt later in the half to go up 27-13 with 6:13 left. UNe went on to take a comfortable 43-27 lead into intermission.
Leading by 14 points midway thru the second half, the Nor'easters closed strong to come away with the 25-point victory.
Belmonte made three 3-pointers and was 9-for-10 at the free throw line. #Isaac Stickney# '08 (Rumford, Maine) was dominant inside, posting 20 points on 8-for-11 shooting. #Johnnie Jefferson# '09 (Dallas, Texas) knocked down four treys on his way to 18 points to go with a team-high nine rebounds. #Jaykyri Simpson# '09 (East Cleburne, Texas) scored 17 and #Chas Rentrope# '11 (Peoria, Ariz.) had 15. Simpson added five assists and a pair of steals.
Ryan Jaziri '08 (Norwich, Conn.) scored 18 of his game-high 25 points after halftime for NEC. NEC's Shane Hennessey '11 (Cornwall, England) grabbed a game-high 11 rebounds and Patrick Holung (Hartford, Conn.) chipped in with 10 points.
The Nor'easters return to the hardwood Tuesday (Jan. 15) with a home contest at 8:00 p.m. Game time at the Campus Center is 8:00 p.m.
(posted Jan. 12, 2008 | 20:36 ET)
