Box Score

BIDDEFORD, Maine -- First-year guard Quentin Thompson (Austin, Texas) scored all of his 14 points in the second half, including three 3-pointers in the opening 1:31 of the frame, as the University of New England pulled away for a 94-75 win over New England College in a mutual conference opener Saturday at the Campus Center.

UNE posted its ninth consecutive victory to improve to 10-3 overall, while the Pilgrims suffered their eighth loss in their last nine starts to fall to 2-10.

Leading by six (45-39) at the break, UNE utilized Thompson's long-distance shooting to forge a 13-4 run over the first 2:06 of the final frame.  First-year guard Anthony Johnson (Austin, Texas) and senior forward Johnnie Jefferson (Dallas, Texas) each added buckets during the surge that gave UNE a 58-43 advantage.

The Nor'easters would maintain a double-digit lead the rest of the way, as they shot 48.7 percent (19 of 39) from the floor after halftime.

Senior point guard Jaykyri Simpson (East Cleburne, Texas) played a strong all-around game for UNE, finishing with 15 points, six rebounds, six assists, five steals, and a pair of blocks.  Johnson and sophomore guard #J.J. Roseman# (Dallas, Texas) each chipped in with 11 points, and Jefferson ended with 10.

Sophomore forward Shane Hennessey (Plymouth, United Kingdom) posted a double-double for the Pilgrims with game highs of 21 points and 11 boards.  He was 9 of 11 from the floor.  Junior guard Rafael Salado (Boston, Mass.) scored 17 points to go with seven rebounds, and first-year guard Eric Linehan (Point Pleasant, N.J.) tossed in 13 points and pulled down seven caroms.

NEC held a slim margin on the boards (39-37) but was bothered by UNE's trapping defense, committing 30 turnovers.  The Nor'easters had 21 steals, many of which led to a total of 26 fastbreak points.

The Pilgrims jumped on UNE early, scoring the opening six points of the contest and leading 8-3 five minutes in.  UNE responded with a 17-4 spurt fueled by five 3-point buckets -- three by Roseman.

New England College shot a robust 53.6 percent (15 of 28) for the frame and trailed by just six.

The Nor'easters will look to extend their winning streak to double digits Tuesday (Jan. 13) when they head to Curry College for an 8:00 p.m. conference tilt.  NEC plays a road contest at nearby TCCC rival Colby-Sawyer College that same evening (7:30 p.m.).