Box Score

BIDDEFORD, Maine -- Tournament Most Valuable Player Jaykyri Simpson (East Cleburne, Texas) had 21 points and 10 rebounds to lead the University of New England to the title at the Jim Beaudry Classic with a 74-68 win over Eastern Connecticut State University Saturday afternoon at the Campus Center.

Trailing 60-57 with 3:46 remaining, the Nor'easters scored 10 consecutive points to take control.  Senior Johnnie Jefferson (Dallas, Texas) drilled a three-pointer from the right corner to tie the game at 60-all, then Eastern Connecticut would turn the ball over on its next three possessions to open the door for the Nor'easters.  A pair of free throws by sophomore #J.J. Roseman# (Dallas, Texas) and two more by Simpson gave UNE a 64-60 advantage with 2:27 on the clock.  First-year Quentin Thompson (Austin, Texas) capped the run with a lay-up with 1:26 left.

First-year forward Jamie Kohn (Columbia, Conn.) hit a three on Eastern's next possession to get the Warriors within three (66-63), but that was as close as they would get.  The Nor'easters made 8 of 8 free throw attempts in the final 40 seconds to preserve the win, their seventh straight triumph.

Simpson was 9-for-12 at the line in matching his season high with 21 points.  He added four assists, four steals and a pair of blocks in 37 minutes of floor time.  Jefferson chipped in with 11 points, six boards and three steals on his way to earning all-tournament accolades.  Roseman came off the bench to net 10 points.

Sophomore center Broderick Sawyer (Norwalk, Conn.) was 8 of 10 from the floor for the Warriors and finished with a team-high 17 points.  Kohn contributed 12 points and eight rebounds.  

ECSU junior guard Jared Willis (New Britain, Conn.) and sophomore guard Courtney Simmons (Middletown, Conn.) were chosen for the all-tournament team.  Willis backed up an 11-assist performance Friday with a 7-point, 6-rebound, 5-assist effort in the championship.  After tallying 22 points in the opening game, Simmons had six points, eight rebounds and seven assist versus UNE.

The Nor'easters overcame spotty shooting (35.9 percent) by forcing 21 turnovers.  Another key to victory was their performance at the foul line -- 78.6 percent (22 of 28) compared to 40.0 percent (8 of 20) for the Warriors.

In the earlier consolation game, Suffolk University picked up its first win of the season with a 67-63 victory over UMaine Fort Kent.  Senior forward Brian Small (Stoughton, Mass.) was named to the all-tournament team for Suffolk, while first-year forward Brandon Fox (Deptford, N.J.) earned all-tourney accolades for the Bengals.

UNE (8-3) will put its win streak to the test Tuesday (Jan. 6) when it heads to Lewiston to take on NESCAC opponent Bates College.  Game time is 7:30 p.m.