Box Score

WILLIMANTIC, Conn. -- Guard Courtney Simmons came off the bench to score 18 points and dish out four assists to lead the undefeated Eastern Connecticut State University men's basketball team to a 65-51 non-conference victory over the University of New England Thursday evening at Geissler Gymnasium.

The win was the fifth consecutive to start the season for the Warriors. UNE dropped its fourth straight decision to fall to 2-5.

Simmons was 7-for-10 from the floor to score a team-best 18 points in just 24 minutes of playing time. Edwin Ortiz scored 12 points to go with four assists, while Nick Nedwick posted 11 points for the winners.

Sophomore forward Quentin Thompson was the lone Nor'easter in double figures, scoring a season-best 23 points. Thompson grabbed nine rebounds and also blocked a pair of shots.

Both teams struggled offensively in the early going. After a Marchale Robinson three-pointer gave UNE a 7-5 lead, Nedwick buried a jumper to tie the score at 7-all on the next possession. Both squads then went scoreless for the ensuing 3:26 before Simmons canned a trey to give the Warriors an advantage they would not relinquish.

Eastern led at the break, 26-21, despite shooting just 37 percent (10 of 27) for the frame. The Nor'easters were ice cold from the field, converting just 7 of 33 (21.2 percent) shots.

The Warriors started the second half by outscoring UNE 7-1 over the initial 2:48 to establish a 33-22 lead. After the teams went back-and-forth over the next few minutes, the hosts reeled off eight unanswered points to lead 45-28 at the 12:19 mark.

ECSU continued to pour it on, taking its largest lead of the night (56-35) with six minutes left on the clock. The Warriors shot 53.3 percent (16 of 30) from the floor in the second half.

For the game, Eastern Connecticut shot 45.6 percent (26-for-57) compared to 26.2 percent (16-for-61) for the Nor'easters. The Warriors also held a 46-29 advantage on the glass.

UNE is idle until next Tuesday (Dec. 8) when it heads to WPI for a 7 p.m. game.