Statistics

MILTON, Mass. -- Curry College saw a double-digit lead with under five minutes remaining almost completely disappear but managed to fend off the University of New England men's basketball team for an 89-83 Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) result at Katz Gymnasium on Tuesday night (Feb. 6).

The game featured a 30-point swing on the scoreboard, after the Nor'easters used the initial 6:40 of the contest to notch a 19-2 lead, largely from Kha Cao Ra James, Zach Boulay, and Adam Lux. A trey from Lux had it at 30-19 with 7:19 left in the 1st half before a 14-2 spurt by the Colonels flipped the advantage (33-32). However, Lux and a three-pointer by Zach Federico were the final scores of the period to establish a 37-33 edge for the visitors.

Curry had inched ahead early in the 2nd with the help of a quick five by Jason Romans, and then a 15-3 stretch vaulted the hosts to a 55-42 cushion -- their largest of the evening. UNE had closed the gap to three (67-64) with five in two trips by Federico, only to see the deficit shift back up to 12 (80-68) with 4:22 to go.

In less than two minutes, though, 10 points from Jack Pyzynski around a layup by Lux brought the Nor'easters within one (81-80). The difference was two (83-81) inside the final minute, but six free throws mixed in with defensive stops tipped the outcome in Curry's favor.

The Colonels shot 64.7 percent (22-for-34) from the field following intermission. While the visitors went 13-of-34 in the period, UNE did out-score the hosts by eight at the charity stripe (17-9). Overall, the Nor'easters had a 14-point scoring edge behind the arc and at the line, but Curry amassed a 56-30 disparity scoring in the paint.

Romans topped all players with 24 points for the Colonels (11-11, 5-9 CCC), and Carl Monplaisir contributed 17 points with nine rebounds. Nick Johnson and Favour Okeke had 14 and 10 points, respectively.

For UNE (5-17, 0-14), Lux registered the game's only double-double of 23 points and 14 caroms. Adrian Torres supplied 14 points, five assists, four rebounds, three steals, and two blocks. Federico finished with 13 points, Pyzynski at 12, and Boulay on 11.

The Nor'easters will be back in Biddeford on Saturday (3 p.m.) to face Roger Williams University.