Statistics

BIDDEFORD, Maine -- The University of New England utilized a pair of 12-0 spurts to gain some separation from Medgar Evers College (N.Y.) on the way to an 88-77 men's basketball victory to kick off the 2023 Jim Beaudry Classic on Coach Beaudry's Court inside the Harold Alfond Forum on Saturday evening (Nov. 11). The event, which was first held in 2007-08, is now in its 11th edition.

The Nor'easters (1-1) advance to face Wheaton College in Sunday's 3 p.m. championship game; the Lyons defeated Eastern Connecticut State University by a 69-57 margin in the nightcap. Medgar Evers and ECSU open Sunday's action in the 1 p.m. consolation match.

It was end-to-end action at the start, with three lead-changes and six ties by the time things were 31-31 with 7:41 left in the 1st half. A three-pointer by Adam Lux gave UNE the edge for good, and soon one of the 12-unanswered streaks pushed the spread to 48-35. Jayden Thornton (8) and Adrian Torres (4) did the scoring in less than 100 seconds.

Coming out of the intermission facing a 51-38 deficit, the Cougars netted the first seven of the 2nd period and, by the 14:37 mark, Medgar Evers had trimmed it all the way down to 56-53. But the Nor'easters responded with another dozen to pad the lead to 68-53; Torres accounted for eight, this time, and Dylan Crowley the other four.

The visitors did manage to reduce the gap back into single digits for a moment at 79-70, only to see the next seven go for UNE. Kyle Lombardi tallied all of his five points to cap the burst with 2:02 remaining.

Torries topped all players in points (23; career high), rebounds (11), assists (6), and blocks (3), while snagging six steals, as well. Lux dialed up 16 of his 18 points in the opening frame, and added eight boards. Thornton wound up with 16 points, and Zach Boulay contributed 11 points with seven caroms.

The Nor'easters shot 45 percent from the field (34-for-76), against the 35 percent (28-of-80) by Medgar Evers. UNE held a 54-34 advantage scoring in the paint, and had the double the success (24-12) converting turnovers into points (18 TO by both squads).

The Cougars received 18 points from Nicholas Guillen -- all in the 1st stanza, with the aid of 4-for-5 accuracy from long range. Dante Simmons totaled 15 points (all but 2 in the 2nd), 10 rebounds, and seven steals.

Aside from one year that the Jim Beaudry Classic was just a single contest, UNE has now reached the final eight times.