First-year guard Anthony Johnson made all six of his field goal attempts en route to a team-high 16 points
Box Score
BIDDEFORD, Maine -- The University of New England men's basketball team made nine 3-point field goals in the second half and forced 14 turnovers to pull away for an 83-60 win over Regis College in The Commonwealth Coast Conference action Thursday evening at the Campus Center.
The win was a program-record 14th straight for the Nor'easters, who improved to 15-3 overall and remain atop the conference standings with a perfect 6-0 mark. The Pride dropped to 7-10 overall, 1-5 in TCCC games.
After Regis had scored the first two baskets of the second half to pull within two (33-31), the Nor'easters tallied seven unanswered points to take control. Senior guard Steve Belmonte (Levittown, N.Y.) buried back-to-back three-pointers to key the run.
The Nor'easters continued to take advantage of Regis' turnovers, building a 61-45 lead with 8:14 to play. The Pride would get no closer the rest of the way.
UNE made 9 of 12 shots from beyond the arc after halftime and shot 54.2 percent (13 of 24) overall for the frame.
First-year guard Anthony Johnson (Austin, Texas) was 6-for-6 from the floor and scored a team-high 16 points for the Nor'easters. Senior Johnnie Jefferson (Dallas, Texas) had a big second half, scoring 12 of his 15 points, including a trio of 3-pointers.
Senior guard Jaykyri Simpson (East Cleburne, Texas) contributed 14 points, eight rebounds, three steals and two blocks for the winners, while Belmonte finished with 13 points. First-year guard Quentin Thompson (Austin, Texas) collared a game-high 12 rebounds.
Sophomore guard Derrick Neal (Boston, Mass.) led the way for Regis with 18 points. Classmate Josh Irvin (New Britain, Conn.) and junior Shannon Strange (Temple Hills, Md.) scored 11 points apiece. Strange also recorded a team-high seven rebounds (5 offensive).
UNE led 33-26 at the break despite committing 11 turnovers. The Nor'easters made half (14 of 28) of their field goal attempts, while the Pride converted just 33.3 percent (11-for-33).
The Nor'easters will host Western New England College on Saturday at the Campus Center (3:00 p.m.). The tilt will be available live on the Web at http://athletics.une.edu/stream.asx
Regis entertains Wentworth Institute of Technology that same afternoon.
