Box Score

BANGOR, Maine -- The University of New England Nor'easters men's basketball team went 8-for-8 at the free throw line in the final 53 seconds to help secure a 63-57 win over the University of Maine Fort Kent in the opening round of the Paul Bunyan Tournament hosted by Husson University.

UNE advances to Sunday's championship and will face host Husson, a 90-65 winner of UMaine Machias in the day's other contest. The title tilt is scheduled for 3 p.m. and can been seen live at on the Internet.

Senior Chas Rentrope (Peoria, Ariz.) and juniors Marcus Winn (Austin, Texas) and Ryan Knotek (Saratoga Springs, N.Y.) tallied 14 points apiece for the Nor'easters (2-6). Rentrope grabbed nine rebounds and came up with six steals, while Knotek had eight boards. Sophomore #J.D. Winn# (Austin, Texas) contributed 12 points off the bench.

UMFK (6-3) was led by junior guard Manny Odugbela (Providence, R.I.), who tossed in a game-high 17 points. First-year Kevin Loiselle (Montreal, Quebec), added 16 to go with eight caroms and four steals.

With the score tied at 55 and less than a minute remaining, Knotek went to the charity stripe and sank a pair of free throws to give UNE the lead for good. Marcus Winn knocked down four free throws and Rentrope two in the final 19 seconds to hold off the Bengals.

Prior to converting all eight of their trips to the line in the final minute, the Nor'easters had made just 11 of 18 (61.1 percent) for the game.

Big Blue, which led by two (26-24) at the half, shot 55.6 percent (10 of 18) in the second frame to help its cause. The Nor'easters made 6 of 10 treys, including a 3-for-4 performance from Marcus Winn.

The game featured eight ties and 11 lead changes. UNE overcame 21 turnovers by holding a 31-21 cushion on the glass.