Box Score

GORHAM, Maine -- The University of Southern Maine closed with an 11-2 run over the final three minutes to pull out a 76-67 men's basketball decision against the University of New England on Tuesday night (Nov. 15) at Fifield Court.

Lay-ups from James Starks III and Zach Leal separated the Huskies (1-0) from a 65-all tie, and the hosts drained 7-of-10 at the line in the last 1:35 to extend the lead while the Nor'easters (0-1) could not find the range.

Leal finished with 25 points, and Starks III went for 21 to go with 16 rebounds. Together, they combined to shoot 18-for-31 from the field. Jacob Littlefield contributed nine points and seven rebounds, while Jalen Lincoln ended with eight points and Omar Haji-Hersi notched seven points as well as eight caroms.

Southern Maine attempted 23 more free throws than UNE during the evening, and out-scored its opponent by 15 points at the stripe.

For the Nor'easters, Jean-Luc Parker totaled 16 points. Gavin Dibble did not miss a field goal attempt in four tries and added 12. Drew Coveney registered 10 points along with five rebounds, four assists, and four steals. Drew Washington tossed in three from long distance for nine points, and Ryan Matthews had eight.

Prior to the final stretch, neither side held an advantage greater than six points all game. The Huskies reached that margin on seven occasions only to be reeled back in by UNE.

The visiting squad jumped out to its only six-point edge (6-0) with back-to-back treys from Coveney and Parker at the start. USM soon countered with a 10-2 run that gained a 24-18 lead just before the midpoint of the initial half.

The Nor'easters turned that span (10-2) right around to go up 28-26, but the hosts shifted momentum in their favor with 13 of the ensuing 18 to take a 39-33 padding into the break while shooting 48.4 percent from the floor.

USM never trailed in the 2nd half, but also could not distance itself from UNE, and then Dibble canned a triple to knot the score at 63-63. Starks III restored the lead moments later, only to see Sam Thomas drop a little jumper to level it up with 3:52 on the clock.

Big Blue heads for the two-day Charlie Ryan Classic on Friday (5 p.m.) at Thomas College.