Statistics
 
BIDDEFORD, Maine – The University of New England men's basketball team put together a 12-2 run to come within four points of Western New England in the final minutes of Saturday afternoon's Conference of New England battle, but the Golden Bears ultimately held off the Nor'easters by a final tally of 82-73 on Coach Beaudry's Court inside the Harold Alfond Forum.
 
Adam Lux executed a three-point play off a WNEU turnover to cut the visitors' lead to 77-73 with 1:29 remaining before Brian Geitner hit a clutch triple for the Golden Bears, the preseason conference favorite, on the other end to dash UNE's hopes of a last-minute comeback.
 
Tim Restall poured in a game-high 26 points for WNEU (8-3, 4-0 CNE), connecting on 12-of-16 from the field. Geitner and Cody Palazzesi joined him in double figures with 14 and 10, respectively. Lux, who knocked down a game-high three treys (3-for-8), paced the Nor'easters (4-7, 2-2 CNE) with 24 points. Zach Boulay followed with 13, 12 of which came in the first half. Jaelen Jackson pitched in with 12 to pair with a game-best five assists.
 
Zach Federico knocked down a 3-pointer in the final second of the first half to help UNE come within four (41-37) of the Golden Bears, who missed each of their nine attempts from beyond the arc during the opening 20 minutes. UNE tied the game, 43-43, with a Lux triple soon after the break, but was unable to take the lead with WNEU eventually opening a 10-point advantage midway through the second half.
 
The Golden Bears matched their largest lead, 75-61, at the 5:23 mark before the Nor'easters began to chip away, with a Federico 3-pointer cutting the lead to 75-65. Jackson's bucket with 1:46 remaining answered a pair of WNEU free throws and brought the score to 77-70, and Lux's hoop and harm with 1:29 to go ignited the home crowd as the Nor'easters had climbed within two scores. Geitner's ensuing triple proved to be the dagger as UNE was held scoreless in the game's final minute.
 
The Nor'easters will hit the road to square off with Endicott on Tuesday, Jan. 7 at 5:30 p.m. before returning home to battle Roger Williams at 3 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 11.