Box Score

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. -- The University of New England finished with a 15-5 run over the final four minutes to come away with a 87-79 victory over Western New England College in The Commonwealth Coast Conference men's basketball action Saturday afternoon at the Alumni Healthful Living Center.

The Nor'easters (5-2 TCCC), who won their fourth consecutive game in get back to .500 overall at 9-9, were led by career-highs from sophomores Anthony Johnson (Austin, Texas) and Marcus Winn (Austin, Texas). Johnson went for 30 points and seven rebounds, while Winn tallied 23 points off the bench. Together, the duo recorded seven of UNE's nine treys.

Classmate Quentin Thompson (Austin, Texas) did a little bit of everything in support, going for 11 points, 10 boards, seven assists, and seven steals. First-year Anthony Coleman (Austin, Texas) added nine points and six caroms.

Sophomore Andre Shaw (Jamaica, N.Y.) led five WNEC players in double figures with a team-high 19 points. Junior Brad Thomka (Springfield, Mass.) notched 15 points to go with eight rebounds, and classmate Chris Devine (Wilbraham, Mass.) went for 13 points, seven boards, and seven assists.

Three seniors -- Brendan Murphy (West Springfield, Mass.), Rick Johnson (Springfield, Mass.), and Mike Booker (Springfield, Mass.) -- chipped in with a combined 30 points. Booker also had 15 rebounds and six helpers.

UNE jumped out to a 13-4 lead by the 15:03 mark of the first half, only to see the Golden Bears come back with 17 of the next 22 points over a five minute stretch to take a 21-18 advantage.

After an exchange of baskets, WNEC maintained the lead to a 40-37 edge at the break. The Nor'easters struggled to shoot just 33.3 percent (14 of 42) in the frame.

UNE pulled back into a 53-all tie at 14:33 of the second half, before the Golden Bears reeled off nine unanswered points in 2:22 to grab their largest cushion of the day.

The Nor'easters struck back with seven straight points to make things close again, and later regained the lead at 76-74 on a layup by Winn with 3:33 to play.

A three-point play by Rick Johnson with 2:12 remaining momentarily gave the advantage to WNEC, but Winn snuck free for another layup that provided UNE the final lead of the game.

UNE turned it around to shoot 45.7 percent (16-for-35) after intermission, including going 5-of-10 from downtown. Big Blue also made 21 trips to the free throw line in the second half -- making 13 (61.9 percent).

The Golden Bears converted an impressive 51.5 percent (17 of 33) in the final stanza, but fell behind due to 34 turnovers (20 UNE steals) and 24 fouls.

The Nor'easters, who have now topped WNEC in three straight meetings, will look to climb up over .500 on Wednesday when they host Wentworth Institute of Technology at 8 p.m.

WNEC (9-9, 4-3 TCCC), which had won five of its previous six games, will visit Eastern Nazarene College the same day.