Statistics

BIDDEFORD, Maine -- The University of New England men's basketball team secured a Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) win for the second time in as many outings on Wednesday night (Feb. 14), topping Suffolk University by a 73-70 spread on Coach Beaudry's Court inside the Harold Alfond Forum on Wednesday night (Feb. 14).

The Rams led for nearly 15 minutes in the 1st half, and by as many as eight, before taking a 33-31 edge into the break. While the Nor'easters struck for the first seven of the 2nd period, Suffolk notched 16 of the next 20 to assume a 49-42 cushion. However, a quick five from Derek Diaz-Pavon sparked UNE back to life, and when Jayden Thornton canned a triple with 10:41 remaining, the hosts would not trail again (52-49).

Six points by Adam Lux, around another three-pointer from Thornton pushed the margin from 57-all to 66-59 approaching five minutes to play. It was still seven (72-65) with 1:45 on the clock, before a basket by Danny Yardemian and trey from Cole LeVangie closed the gap to just two with 60 seconds to go. Empty trips both ways forced the Rams to foul Lux with 0.9 showing and he made the first free throw; the second bounced off and was heaved the other direction, but was short.

UNE hit 53 percent of its shots following halftime (16-for-30), which including going 4-of-8 from long range to rebound from a 1-for-13 performance during the initial 20 minutes.

The Nor'easters (7-17, 2-14 CCC) were paced by Lux's 18 points, and Kyle Lombardi chipped in with 12 points and eight caroms. Adrian Torres supplied nine points, six boards, four steals, and three blocks. All of Thornton's eight points came in the 2nd, and Diaz-Pavon totaled seven points with five rebounds.

For Suffolk (12-11, 7-8), LeVangie knocked down 6-of-8 from deep to share the game-high of 18 points. Keenan Robertson added 15 points, and Evan Cook tacked on 11 more. Yardemian finished with a double-double of 12 points and 12 rebounds, as well as six assists. The visitors shot 37.5 percent from the floor in the match.

UNE concludes the regular season with a visit to the University of Hartford on Saturday. The Hawks are the newest member of the Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) but are still in the process of reclassifying from Division I to Division III, and so the game does not count towards the 2023-24 league standings.