Chas Rentrope (above) established career highs of 22 points and seven rebounds to lead UNE to a 40-point win over UMPI
Box Score
BIDDEFORD, Maine -- Guard Chas Rentrope (Peoria, Ariz.) tossed in a career-high 22 points on 7-for-9 shooting, as the University of New England Nor'easters breezed into the championship game of the Jim Beaudry Classic with a 95-55 win over the University of Maine Presque Isle Owls Friday evening at the Campus Center.
The Nor'easters won for the fourth straight time to improve to 6-4, while the Owls remain winless in nine starts. UNE will face Wesleyan University in tomorrow's 4:00 p.m. tourney championship. The Cardinals rallied from a 15-point first-half deficit on its way to a 66-58 overtime decision versus Thomas College in the day's opener.
After UMPI scored the opening bucket, UNE went on a 19-5 run to take a 12-point lead (19-7) just seven minutes into the contest. The Nor'easters would continue to pull away, forging a 53-31 advantage heading into intermission.
UNE would start the second frame with a 17-6 spurt over the opening 4:43 to lay claim to a 70-37 advantage. The Nor'easters shot 65.2 percent (15 of 23) after the break on their way to a 40-point victory.
Rentrope grabbed a career-best seven rebounds to go with four assists. He made 7 of 8 free throw attempts and also added a pair of steals.
Jaykyri Simpson '09 (East Cleburne, Texas) and Johnnie Jefferson '09 (Dallas, Texas) each scored 17 points in just 22 and 18 minutes of playing time, respectively. Isaac Stickney '08 (Rumford, Maine) finished with nine points and a game-high 16 boards.
The Nor'easters overcame 25 turnovers by shooting 56.1 percent (32 of 57) on the evening to go with a rebounding margin of 51-27.
Ronald Spencer scored 22 points to pace the Owls. James Gregory chipped in with 14 points and four assists. Michael Latchford registered team highs with nine rebounds and five steals.
(posted Jan. 4, 2008 | 22:51 ET)
