Box Score

BEVERLY, Mass. -- The University of New England men's basketball team scored 20 consecutive points midway through the second half to break open a close game on its way to an 81-72 win over Endicott College in The Commonwealth Coast Conference play Tuesday evening at the Post Center.

The victory extends the Nor'easters' program-record win streak to 18 games, the second-longest in the nation.

Trailing 49-48 with just over 11 minutes remaining, the Nor'easters took the lead for good when junior guard Marchale Robinson converted a pair of free throws then drilled a three-pointer to get UNE's 20-0 run underway.  The spurt culminated with a Steve Belmonte trey with less than seven minutes on the clock.

First-year guard Anthony Johnson registered a team-high 19 points on 9-for-11 shooting to lead the Nor'easters.  Belmonte was 8-for-8 from the free throw on his way to 17 points.  First-year guard Quentin Thompson and senior Johnnie Jefferson scored 14 points apiece.  Jefferson knocked down four 3-pointers, while Thomspon established game highs with nine rebounds, five steals and two blocked shots.  

Despite giving up a sizeable height advantage to Endicott, UNE held a 37-30 rebounding margin.

Graham Whitelaw scored a game-high 23 points for the Gulls (8-14, 3-7 TCCC).  Kevin McGuire came off the bench to score 14.

The Nor'easters got off to a fast start, scoring the opening 11 points of the contest.  Endicott chipped away the remainder of the first frame and was able to tie the game at 37 heading into intermission.  Johnson scored 10 points on 5-for-6 shooting in the half for UNE.

Next up for the Nor'easters (19-3, 10-0) is a Saturday road game with Colby-Sawyer College in a match-up of the top two teams in the TCCC.  UNE tips off with the second-place Chargers at 1:00 p.m.