Statistics

BIDDEFORD, Maine – Brady Saunders knocked down two clutch free throws with only five seconds remaining in the game to help Southern Maine tie and take the lead, and eventually defeat the University of New England men's basketball team by a final tally of 78-77 on Wednesday night on Coach Beaudry's Court inside the Harold Alfond Forum.
 
UNE (1-1, 0-0 CNE) grabbed a 77-76 advantage with less than 10 seconds remaining thanks to a bucket by Adam Lux (Watch), who scored a team-best 24 points. The Nor'easters committed a costly foul on the other end, allowing the Huskies (2-0, 0-0 Little East) the late-game opportunity at the charity stripe. UNE's 3-point attempt at the buzzer, the would-be game-winner, on the ensuing possession struck the back iron.
 
In addition to Lux's 24, UNE's offense was bolstered by two other scorers in double figures, with Jack Pyzynski contributing 16 points and Adrian Torres pitching in with 11. Pyzynski also came away with 11 rebounds, notching the first double-double of his UNE career.
 
Southern Maine's Thomas Whelan matched Lux with 24 points, and Bryce Lausier was neck-and-neck in the scoring column with 22. Saunders and Diego Colon joined them in double figures with 15 and 10, respectively. Lausier pulled down a game-high 14 rebounds.
 
After leading by 10 at halftime, the Huskies were on top by as many as 15 early in the second half. The Nor'easters chipped away, eventually pulling within five (67-62) after Jaelen Jackson's 3-pointer with just over six minutes remaining. Lux drained a 3-pointer with less than three minutes remaining to bring the Nor'easters within two (75-73), representing the Huskies' smallest lead since the 9:50 mark of the first half. Southern Maine knocked down one of two at the line with under a minute to go, bringing its lead back to three, before back-to-back Lux buckets had UNE on top for the first time since the 14:09 mark of the first half.
 
The Nor'easters will look to carry the momentum they generated in Wednesday night's second half into the Jim Beaudry Classic, which begins on Saturday, Nov. 16 with UNE hosting Maine Maritime at 5 p.m.