Johnnie Jefferson scored 18 of his 33 points in the first half, as the Nor'easters built a 47-35 lead
Box Score
BIDDEFORD, Maine -- Johnnie Jefferson '09 (Dallas, Texas) matched his career high with 33 points, and Jaykyri Simpson supported with 25 to help the University of New England defeat Colby-Sawyer College, 90-78, in a The Commonwealth Coast Conference men's basketball game Saturday afternoon at the Campus Center.
The Nor'easters (14-9, 8-3 TCCC), who have already clinched a playoff berth, took another step towards earning one of the top four spots and a first-round home playoff game in the upcoming tourney. The Chargers slipped to 12-9 overall, 7-4 in TCCC play.
Jefferson was on fire in the first half, scoring 18 points on 8-for-11 shooting to help the Nor'easters forge a 47-35 advantage.
The Nor'easters would start quickly, opening up on a 10-1 run. Colby-Sawyer responded and cut their deficit to four (20-16), but the Nor'easters would score 9 of the next 11 points to assume a double-digit (29-18) lead at the 7:37 mark.
A lay-up by Isaac Stickney '08 (Rumford, Maine) would give UNE its largest lead of the contest at 45-29, and the Nor'easters went into intermission with a 47-35 cushion, thanks in large part to 57.6 percent (19 of 33) shooting from the floor and 14 Charger turnovers.
The visitors began to chip away at their deficit in the early stages of the second frame, closing to within four (57-53) on a jumper by Duncan Szeliga '09 (Newmarket, N.H.) with 13:43 remaining.
UNE's Steve Belmonte '09 (Levittown, N.Y.) answered with a 3-pointer from left of the circle, and the Nor'easters went on a 10-2 spurt to take a 69-57 lead. Belmonte and Jefferson tallied five points apiece during that run.
Colby-Sawyer would get no closer than seven the rest of the way. The Chargers shot 58.1 percent (18 of 31) after halftime, but were once again hampered by turnovers, committing 11 more miscues.
Jefferson was 14 of 25 from the field, including 5 of 11 from beyond the arc. He grabbed eight rebounds and made two steals. Simpson was 11-for-13 at the free throw line on his way to 25 points. He added nine rebounds and eight assists.
Stickney also played a solid game for the Nor'easters, finishing with 16 points and seven boards. He was 6 of 9 from the floor.
The Chargers saw five players hit for double digits, led by Andrew Cousin's '09 (South Portland, Maine) 16 points. Ryan Murray '09 (Haddam, Conn.) scored 14, Szeliga 13, Jon Chaloux '10 (Barre, Vt.) 12 and Dave Rosso '10 (Wilmington, Vt.) added 11. Szeliga collared a team-high nine rebounds.
The Nor'easters return to action Wednesday (Feb. 20) when they play host to Gordon College. Game time at the Campus Center is 8:00 p.m. Colby-Sawyer plays at Wentworth Institute of Technology that same evening (7:30 p.m.).
(posted Feb. 16, 2008 | 17:44 ET)
