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SEASON COMPLETED
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Friday, April 11, 2008
Caterina and Coppenrath Selected to Participate in Senior All-Star Game
GORHAM, Maine -- Seniors Jamaal Caterina (Portland, Maine/Deering) and
Drew Coppenrath (Barnet, Vt./St. Johnsbury Academy) of the University of
Southern Maine Huskies men's basketball team have been selected to participate
in the New England Basketball Coaches Association (NEBCA) Division III Senior
All-Star Game to be played this Sunday (3:00 p.m.) at Babson College in Babson
Park, Mass. The announcement was made Wednesday (April 9) by Stephen Brennan,
the NEBCA President.
A 6-foot-6 forward, Caterina earned first team All-Little East Conference
honors this winter averaging a team-leading 18.0 points and 9.4 rebounds per
game while shooting a solid 44.6 percent (107-for-240) from the field. Caterina
recorded 10 double-doubles in 18 games in becoming the first USM men's
basketball player to earn first team All-Little East Conference honors since
Jason Levesque during the 2002-2003 season.
The team's second leading scorer and rebounder, Coppenrath, averaged 15.4
points and 6.6 rebounds per game. Connecting on 47.9 percent (168-for-351) of
his shots from the field, Coppenrath led the Huskies in three-point field goals
made (33) and shot an outstanding 41.2 percent (33-for-80) from beyond the arc.
The 6-6 forward also earned a spot on the LEC All-Defensive team, leading USM in
blocked shots with 26, and the All-LEC second team.
In three seasons (2005-2008), Coppenrath finished his career with 804
points, 413 rebounds, 54 assists and 44 blocked shots in 77 career games. He
averaged 10.4 points and 5.4 rebounds per game during his career. His 44
blocked shots ranks sixth on the career list.
Led by Caterina and Coppenrath, USM finished the season with a 14-13
overall record, the team's first winning season since the 1998-1999 season
(13-12). In conference play, Southern Maine posted an 8-6 mark and earned the
fourth seed in the postseason tournament. It was the first time since 1999-2000
that USM hosted a first round playoff game. USM advanced to the semifinals of
the tournament defeating Eastern Connecticut State University, 79-69, before
falling to the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth, the top seed, 75-69, in
the semifinals.
The Senior All-Star Game, which benefits the Coaches vs. Cancer program,
showcases some of the finest Division III players in the New England region who
have earned All-America, All-Region, All-Conference and Conference Player of the
Year honors. The rosters were selected by several committees made up of area
college coaches.
2008 NEBCA Division III Senior All Stars
Home Team
(Representing the Little East, GNAC, UAA, NEWMAC and MASCAC)
No. Player College/University
24 Marquis Victor Salem State
25 Will Spont Worcester State
5 Ryan Frassica Worcester State
33 Tom Cuddihy Bridgewater State
33 Kyle McDonald Babson
10 Al Sowers Coast Guard
32 Jim Marois WPI
22 Antoine Coleman WPI
33 Jamaal Caterina Southern Maine
34 Dan Holbrook UMass Dartmouth
32 Leon Martin Eastern Connecticut
40 Drew Coppenrath Southern Maine
35 Jeff Carpenter Rivier
24 Japhet Kerr Johnson & Wales
12 Ben Chase Emerson
10 James Crawford Lasell
5 Joe Coppens Brandeis
11 Kwami Graves-Fulgham Brandeis
Coach: George Halcovage, Babson
Visiting Team
(Representing the NESCAC, CCC, NAC and Independents)
No. Player College/University
32 Fletcher Walters Amherst
12 Patrick Hasiuk Trinity
45 Charles Stone Connecticut College
34 Jordan Fliegal Bowdoin
14 Andrew Harris Middlebury
14 Chris Shalvoy Williams
31 Jake Weitzen Tufts
44 Sherrad Prezzie-Blue Wentworth
42 Geoff Baranger Roger Williams
34 Chris Vallee Nichols
2 Tim Jones Curry
3 Charlie Viana Johnson State
44 Nate Hawes Elms
20 Rich Reilly Castleton State
33 Arch Mitchell Newbury
32 Doug Hammond Green Mountain
21 Nick Harrington Southern Vermont
Coach: Oliver Eslinger, MIT
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Tuesday, March 4, 2008
Caterina and Coppenrath Honored By Little East Conference
GORHAM, Maine -- Senior forwards Jamaal Caterina (Portland, Maine/Deer-
ing) and Drew Coppenrath (Barnet, Vt./St. Johnsbury Academy) of the University
of Southern Maine Huskies men's basketball team have each been selected to the
Little East Conference (LEC) all-conference team according to the results of
voting by the conference's eight head coaches in an announcement made Tuesday by
the conference.
Caterina earned first team all-conference recognition, while Coppenrath was
selected to the all-conference second team and earned a spot on the all-
defensive team. It is the first such honor for both Caterina and Coppenrath.
Caterina averaged a team-leading 18.0 points, 9.4 rebounds and 2.7 assists
per game while shooting a solid 44.6 percent (107-for-240) from the field. The
6-6 forward recorded 10 double-doubles in 18 games played to become the first
USM men's basketball player to earn first-team All-Little East Conference honors
since Jason Levesque during the 2002-2003 season.
Coppenrath finished the season as the team's second leading scorer and
rebounder averaging 15.4 points and 6.6 rebounds per game. He connected on 47.9
percent (168-for-351) of his shots from the field. A solid threat from long-
range, Coppenrath led the Huskies in three-point field goals made (33) shooting
an outstanding 41.2 percent (33-for-80) from beyond the arc. The 6-6 forward
earned his spot on the LEC all-defensive team leading the Huskies in blocked
shots with 26.
After three seasons, Coppenrath finished his career with the Huskies with
804 points, 413 rebounds, 54 assists and 44 blocked shots in 77 career games
played. He averaged 10.4 points and 5.4 rebounds per game. Coppenrath's 44
blocked shots ranks sixth in USM career records.
Southern Maine finished its season with a 14-13 overall record, earning its
first winning record since the 1998-1999 season when it finished with 13-12. In
Little East Conference action, Southern Maine posted a 8-6 mark and earned the
fourth-seed in the Little East Conference tournament. It was the first time
since 1999-2000 that the Huskies hosted a first round LEC game. USM advanced to
the semifinals of the tournament defeating Eastern Connecticut State University,
79-69, before falling to the top-seeded University of Massachusetts Dartmouth,
75-69.
2007-08 Little East Conference Men's Basketball Awards
Player of the Year
Dan Holbrook, Senior, Center, UMass Dartmouth
Rookie of the Year
Brandon Stephens, Freshman, Guard, UMass Dartmouth
Coach of the Year
Brian Baptiste, UMass Dartmouth
First Team
Dan Holbrook Senior Forward UMass Dartmouth
Jamaal Caterina Senior Forward Southern Maine
Reece Freeman Junior Guard UMass Dartmouth
Tirrell Hill Junior Guard Rhode Island College
Tyler Kathan Junior Forward Keene State
Leon Martin Senior Forward Eastern Connecticut
Second Team
Bobby Bailey Junior Guard Rhode Island College
Drew Coppenrath Senior Forward Southern Maine
Kaseem Johnson Junior Forward Rhode Island College
Amigo Paniagua Senior Guard UMass Boston
Jamie Procino Senior Forward Western Connecticut
All-Defensive Team
Bobby Bailey Junior Guard Rhode Island College
Drew Coppenrath Senior Forward Southern Maine
Reece Freeman Junior Guard UMass Dartmouth
Tyshawn Gillespie Sophomore Guard Western Connecticut
Kaseem Johnson Junior Forward Rhode Island College
All-Rookie Team
Anthony Fortes Freshman Guard Rhode Island College
Antone Gray Freshman Guard Rhode Island College
Mike Jensen Freshman Guard Western Connecticut
Courtney Simmons Freshman Guard Eastern Connecticut
Brandon Stephens Freshman Guard UMass Dartmouth
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Sunday, March 2, 2008
2008 Little East Conference Tournament
Championship, Saturday, March 1 (at UMass Dartmouth)
G7 #2 Rhode Island College 55 #1 UMass Dartmouth 52
Semifinals, Friday, February 29 (at UMass Dartmouth)
G5 #2 Rhode Island College 68 #3 Keene State 63
G6 #1 UMass Dartmouth 75 #4 Southern Maine 69
First Round, Tuesday, February 26 (at higher seeded team)
G1 at #1 UMass Dartmouth 131 #8 UMass Boston 63
G2 at #2 Rhode Island College 77 #7 Plymouth State 58
G3 at #3 Keene State 93 #6 Western Connecticut 79
G4 at #4 Southern Maine 79 #5 Eastern Connecticut 69
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Friday, February 29, 2008
(Courtesy of UMass Dartmouth Sports Information)
Top-Seeded UMass Dartmouth Hold Off Southern Maine in LEC Semifinal, 75-69
NORTH DARTMOUTH, Mass. -- The fifth-ranked University of Massachusetts
Dartmouth Corsairs broke a 56-56 tie with a 13-3 run late in the second half and
went on to defeat a stubborn University of Southern Maine Huskies squad, 75-69,
in the second semifinal game of the 2008 Little East Conference Men's Basketball
Championship Friday night at the Tripp Athletic Center in North Dartmouth, Mass.
Sophomore forward Matt Walker (Brockton, Mass.) hit a layup and a three-
pointer to ignite the decisive run with 7:37 remaining. After Southern Maine
senior forward Drew Coppenrath (Barnet, Vt./St. Johnsbury Academy) hit from
three-point range for the Huskies, UMass Dartmouth countered with three-pointers
of their own from senior guard A.J. Tavares (New Bedford, Mass.) and Walker.
Senior center Dan Holbrook (Lexington, Mass.) capped the run with a layup with
3:10 to play.
Southern Maine used layups from senior guard Foster Oakley (Farmington,
Maine/Mt. Blue) and sophomore guard Greg Whitaker (Presque Isle, Maine) to cut
the lead to four points with eight seconds remaining, but Tavares made a pair of
free throws to put the game on ice.
"It was a tough game," said UMass Dartmouth head coach Brian Baptiste.
"Southern Maine is a good team; they have some big kids and they shoot the ball
well from the perimeter. The atmosphere wasn't something that all of our
players were used too and it may have affected us. But we played hard, we made
some big shots in the second half and were able to win the game.
Holbrook led the Corsairs with a double-double scoring 18 points and
grabbing 11 rebounds. Tavares added 17 points.
USM senior forward Jamaal Caterina (Portland, Maine/Deering) led all
scorers with 24 points and 11 rebounds for his 11th double-double of the season.
Coppenrath added 19 points while Oakley chipped in with 12 points.
The Corsairs will play Rhode Island College in the championship game on
Saturday (5:00 p.m.). RIC defeated Keene State College, 68-63, in the other
semifinal game.
UMass Dartmouth improves to 25-2 with the win, while the loss ends Southern
Maine's season at 14-13 overall. It is the first winning season for the Huskies
since the 1998-1999 season when they finished 13-12.
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Tuesday, February 26, 2008
2008 Little East Conference Tournament
First Round, Tuesday, February 26 (at higher seeded team)
G1 at #1 UMass Dartmouth 131 #8 UMass Boston 63
G2 at #2 Rhode Island College 77 #7 Plymouth State 58
G3 at #3 Keene State 93 #6 Western Connecticut 79
G4 at #4 Southern Maine 79 #5 Eastern Connecticut 69
Semifinals, Friday, February 29 (at UMass Dartmouth)
G5 #2 Rhode Island College (20-6) vs. #3 Keene State (16-10) 6:00
G6 #1 UMass Dartmouth (24-2) vs. #4 Southern Maine (14-12) 8:00
Championship, Saturday, March 1 (at UMass Dartmouth)
G7 Winner of Game 5 vs. Winner of Game 6 5:00
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Tuesday, February 26, 2008
Southern Maine Defeats Eastern Connecticut 79-69
Huskies Advance to LEC Semifinals for First Time Since 2000
GORHAM, Maine -- Senior forward Jamaal Caterina (Portland, Maine/Deering)
notched his 10th double-double of the season scoring a career-best 33 points and
grabbing 14 rebounds to lead the fourth-seeded University of Southern Maine
Huskies to a 79-69 win over the fifth-seeded Eastern Connecticut State
University Warriors in a first round game of the 2008 Little East Conference
men's basketball tournament Tuesday night at the Warren Hill Gymnasium.
Hosting its first LEC playoff game since the 1999-2000 season, the Huskies
improve to 14-12 with the win. It is also the Huskies first playoff win since
the 2000 tournament. The Warriors close out their season with a 13-13 overall
record.
Caterina was a monster inside for the Huskies, connecting on 9-of-15 from
the field, including a solid 13-for-15 effort from the free throw line for his
33 points. Senior forward Drew Coppenrath (Barnet, Vt./St. Johnsbury Academy)
added 15 points on a 7-for-12 effort from the field to finish as the only other
USM player in double figures. Senior forward Ian Hebert (New Gloucester,
Maine/Gray-New Gloucester) added eight points off of the bench.
Caterina scored 19 points and grabbed seven rebounds in the first half as
the Huskies shot an outstanding 61.5 percent (16-for-26) from the field to take
a commanding, 41-26 lead at the break. Coppenrath, Hebert and sophomore guard
Greg Whitaker (Presque Isle, Maine) each scored six points in the half. The
Huskies also played well defensively limiting the Warriors to a 34.6 percent (9-
for-26) in the opening stanza.
Junior guard Larry Kelley (New Haven, Conn./Hill Regional) led three
Warriors in double figures with 20 points, while senior center Kevin Zalucki
(Enfield, Conn./East Catholic) recorded a double-double with 12 points and a
game-high 15 rebounds, including eight offensive boards. Senior forward Leon
Martin (Woodbury, Conn./Nonnewaug) added 11 points, five rebounds and four
steals.
The Huskies maintained between a 10-15 point advantage for most of the
second half before Eastern Connecticut made a late run. Trailing by 15 (70-55)
with 3:42 remaining, Eastern Connecticut outscored Southern Maine 14-4 over the
next three minutes to pull within five (74-69) with 53 seconds to play.
Kelley and Zalucki combined to score 12 of the Warriors' 14 points in the
run. Kelley notched seven points on a pair of long distance three-pointers and
a free throw and Zalucki scored twice after grabbing offensive rebounds.
Forced to foul, Eastern Connecticut applied full court pressure sending the
Huskies to the free throw line over the final 44 seconds of the contest. The
Huskies were able to hold the Warriors off making 5-of-6 free throws down the
stretch, including four straight from Caterina.
Southern Maine will face the top-seeded and nationally-ranked University of
Massachusetts Dartmouth Corsairs on Friday (8:00 p.m.). The Corsairs defeated
the University of Massachusetts Boston 131-63 in a first round game. Rhode
Island College, the second seed, will face third-seeded Keene State College on
Friday (6:00 p.m.). Friday's semifinal winners will advance to the LEC
championship game on Saturday (5:00 p.m.).
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Saturday, February 23, 2008
Southern Maine Downs Western Connecticut 75-65
DANBURY, Conn. -- Senior forward Jamaal Caterina (Portland, Maine/Deer-
ing) scored a career-high 29 points and grabbed nine rebounds to lead the
University of Southern Maine Huskies to a 75-65, come-from-behind win over the
Western Connecticut State University Colonials Saturday afternoon in a Little
East Conference men's basketball game at Feldman Arena in Danbury, Conn.
Caterina scored 16 of his 29 points in the second half as USM shot a
blazing 70 percent (14-for-20) in to overcome a seven-point deficit and improve
to 13-12 overall and 8-6 in the LEC.
With the win, Southern Maine earns the right to host a first round game in
the LEC tournament on Tuesday (7:30 p.m.). It is the first time since the 1999-
2000 season that Southern Maine has hosted a first round LEC game. Coupled with
their win in January over the Colonials, the Huskies swept the two-game regular
season series between the teams for the first time.
The loss drops Western Connecticut to 14-10 overall and 6-8 in the
conference.
Caterina connected on 9-of-19 shots from the field (47.3 percent) and was
nearly perfect from the free throw line, making 10 of 11 attempts, to lead all
scorers.
Senior forward Drew Coppenrath (Barnet, Vt./St. Johnsbury Academy) added 19
points and grabbed nine rebounds to finish as the only other USM player in
double-figures. Senior guard Foster Oakley (Farmington, Maine/Mt. Blue) added
eight points on a perfect 3-for-3 mark from the field, including a pair of
three-pointers.
Freshman Michael Jenson (Gales Ferry, Conn./Ledyard) led four Colonial
players in double figures with 16 points. Junior guard Dashon Jennings
(Bridgeport, Conn./Bassick) and senior forward Jamie Procino (Yorktown Heights,
N.Y./Yorktown) added 15 and 13 points respectively, while sophomore guard
Tyshawn Gillespie (Hartford, Conn./Glastonbury) chipped in with 10 points.
Southern Maine outscored the Colonials 45-28 in the second half to overcome
a seven-point (37-30) deficit at the break. The Huskies battled back and forth
with the Colonials, tying the score five times in the second half, before taking
the lead for good 61-59 on a pair of free throws by Caterina with 5:11 remaining
in game.
The Huskies scored four straight points on a jumper from sophomore guard
Greg Whitaker (Presque Isle, Maine) and a lay-up by Caterina to lead by six (65-
59) with 4:03 to play. Jennings interrupted the Huskies' scoring with a three-
pointer to cut the deficit to three (65-62) with 3:44 to play, but that was as
close as Western Connecticut would get the rest of the way as the Huskies
outscored the Colonials 10-3 over the final 3:07 of action.
Southern Maine finished the game shooting 50.9 percent (27-for-53) from the
field and 77.3 percent (17-for-22) from the free throw line. Western
Connecticut shot 40.7 percent (22-for-54) from the floor and 85.7 percent from
the free throw line (12-for-14). Southern Maine held a decisive 40-20 advantage
on the boards.
Southern Maine, the fourth seed in the Little East Conference tournament,
will host the fifth-seeded Eastern Connecticut State University Warriors on
Tuesday. Western Connecticut earns the sixth seed and will travel to third-
seeded Keene State College on Tuesday. The semifinals and finals of the
tournament will be hosted as the highest remaining seed following Tuesday's
games on Friday and Saturday (February 29 and March 1).
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Tuesday, February 19, 2008
Plymouth State Holds On, Defeats Southern Maine 54-53
GORHAM, Maine -- Junior guard Ben Huntington (Hampstead, N.H.) scored a
game-high 17 points to lead the Plymouth State University Panthers to a nail-
biting, 54-53 win over the University of Southern Maine Huskies in Little East
Conference men's basketball action Tuesday night at Warren Hill Gymnasium in
Gorham.
Earning its third straight win, Plymouth State improves to 8-16 overall and
4-9 in the Little East. Southern Maine evens out to 12-12 overall with its
second straight loss and falls to 7-6 in the conference.
Huntington canned four of seven three-pointers to lead two players in
double figures for the Panthers. Sophomore forward Matt Chergey (Bow, N.H.)
added 14 points on an outstanding 6-for-7 effort from the field. Sophomore
forward Bryan Tracy (Manchester, N.H./Bow) added nine points, while senior guard
Phil Bourassa (Old Orchard Beach, Maine/Biddeford) and senior center Chris
Wilkinson (Newmarket, N.H./Central) each chipped in with six points.
Senior forward Jamaal Caterina (Portland, Maine/Deering) paced Southern
Maine with 16 points and a game-high 13 rebounds to record his ninth double-
double of the season. Senior forward Drew Coppenrath (Barnet, Vt./St. Johnsbury
Academy) was the only other USM player in double figures with 12 points.
On a tough shooting night for both teams, the Huskies and the Panthers
traded runs in the second half setting up a neck-and-neck race for the win.
Trailing by five (31-26) with 15:30 to play, Plymouth State rallied to take the
lead by stringing together a 13-0 run over a four-minute span. The Panthers
connected on a trio of three-pointers in the run, including long-range strikes
from Bourassa, Huntington and Tracy. Bourassa netted all six of his points in
the pivotal run for Plymouth State as the Panthers led the Huskies by eight (39-
31) with 11:30 on the clock.
Southern Maine countered with a run of its own, outscoring the Panthers 11-
3 over the next three minutes to knot the score up at 42-42 with 8:06 remaining.
Wilkinson converted a traditional three-point play on the Panther's next
possession converting a lay-up and making the ensuing free throw to put his team
ahead 45-42. Southern Maine and Plymouth exchanged baskets over the next seven
minutes, and four times USM pulled to within a point of Plymouth State, but was
unable to score a go-ahead basket.
Southern Maine sophomore guard Greg Whitaker (Presque Isle, Maine) sank a
pair of free throws with 49 seconds remaining in the game to make the score
54-53 in the favor of the Panthers. After the free throws, the Huskies played
solid defense and Plymouth State was unable to beat the shot clock on its next
possession. With the turnover, Southern Maine regained possession with 13
seconds remaining but failed to get off a shot before time expired.
Southern Maine concludes its regular season on Saturday (3:00 p.m.) when it
travels to Western Connecticut State University. Plymouth State travels to the
University of Massachusetts Dartmouth on Saturday (3:00 p.m.).
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Saturday, February 16, 2008
Rhode Island College Holds Off Southern Maine 79-72
GORHAM, Maine -- Junior guard Tirrell Hill (Bronx, N.Y./All Hallows)
drained four three-pointers and scored 18 points to lead three players in double
figures as the Rhode Island College Anchormen were able to hold off the
University of Southern Maine Huskies 79-72 in Little East Conference men's
basketball action Saturday afternoon at the Murray Center in Providence, Rhode
Island.
Earning their third straight win, the Anchormen improve to 18-5 overall and
10-2 in the Little East. The Huskies fall to 12-11 and 7-5 in conference
action. Despite the loss, Southern Maine remains in sole possession of third
place in the LEC as Keene State College fell to Western Connecticut State
University 106-91. Rhode Island College is tied for first place in the
conference with University of Massachusetts Dartmouth.
Hill was 6-for-13 from the field and 4-for-8 from three-point range to lead
a balanced attack by the Anchormen. Junior guard Cameron Stewart (Newport,
R.I./Exeter-W.G.) added 17 points off of the bench, while junior forward Kaseem
Johnson (New Haven, Conn./Hillhouse) tossed in 12 points. Junior guard Bobby
Bailey (Fall, River, Mass./Hope) scored nine points, junior center Wil Lyons
(Warwick, R.I./Pilgrim) added eight and freshman guard Anthony Fortes (East
Providence, R.I./Proctor Academy) chipped in with seven.
Senior forward Drew Coppenrath (Barnet, Vt./St. Johnsbury Academy) led all
scorers with 23 points on an outstanding 10-for-15 mark from the field. Senior
forward Jamaal Caterina (Portland, Maine/Deering) notched his eighth double-
double of the season with 17 points and a game-high 10 rebounds, while sophomore
guard Greg Whitaker (Presque Isle, Maine) added 14 points.
Trailing 37-36 at halftime, Rhode Island College raced out to a 48-37 lead
three and a half minutes into the second half by scoring 12 straight points.
Hill started the run with an offensive rebound and the put-back seconds into the
half giving his team the lead for good. Bailey followed with another offensive
rebound and a lay-up before Lyons scored the Anchormen's sixth straight point in
the paint off of a feed from Bailey. Hill and Lyons then canned back-to-back
three-pointers to put their team up by 11 with 16:36 to play.
RIC maintained between a 10 and 13-point lead over the next ten minutes
before the Huskies made a final push to bring themselves to within a possession
of the Anchormen late in the game. Trailing 64-51 with 7:51 to play, Southern
Maine strung together a 10-0 run to cut its deficit to three points with 4:19 on
the clock. Senior forward Nick Gooding (Concord, Calif./Mount Diablo) started
the run with a traditional three-point play, securing an offensive rebound and
connecting on a reverse lay-up and a free throw. Freshman guard Troy Jellison
(Bangor, Maine) scored the next four points for USM hitting a pair of mid-range
jumpers before Whitaker knocked down a three-pointer to cap the run.
After a miss on RIC's next possession, Southern Maine had a chance to tie
the game on a three-point attempt, but RIC's Stewart secured the rebound and
Bailey sank a three to give his team a six-point (67-61) cushion with 3:25
remaining. From there USM never got closer than six points.
Southern Maine and Rhode Island College are next in action on Tuesday (7:30
p.m.). Southern Maine hosts Plymouth State University while Rhode Island
College will entertain Western Connecticut State University in Little East
Conference action.
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Tuesday, February 12, 2008
Southern Maine Dims UMass Boston, 78-58
GORHAM, Maine -- Senior forward Jamaal Caterina (Portland, Maine/Deering)
scored 18 points and grabbed eight rebounds to lead a balanced scoring attack as
the University of Southern Maine Huskies downed the University of Massachusetts
Boston Beacons 78-58 in Little East Conference men’s basketball action Tuesday
night at Warren Hill Gymnasium in Gorham.
With its second straight win, Southern Maine improves to 12-10 overall and
7-4 in the Little East. UMass Boston suffered its fourth consecutive loss to
drop to 2-20 overall and 1-10 in conference action.
Caterina was 5-for-10 from the field and a solid 7-for-10 from the free
throw line to lead four USM players in double figures. Senior forward Drew
Coppenrath (Barnet, Vt./St. Johnsbury Academy) notched his third double-double
of the season tossing in 13 points and grabbing a game-high 11 rebounds.
Sophomore guard Greg Whitaker (Presque Isle, Maine) added 12 points on 5-for-11
shooting. Senior forward Ian Hebert (New Gloucester, Maine/Gray-New Gloucester)
chipped in with 11 points and six rebounds off of the bench.
Senior forward Mark Doran (South Boston, Mass./Savio Prep) led the Beacons
with a game-high 23 points, knocking down five three pointers. Doran, who was
7-for-18 from the floor and 5-for-12 from three-point range, also grabbed five
rebounds and had two assists. Sophomore center Terrell Maddox (Hyannis,
Mass./New Mission Hill) and sophomore guard Anthony Matlock (Seattle,
Wash./Frankin) each chipped in with nine points.
Ahead by five (21-16) with 5:56 to play in the first half, Southern Maine
outscored the UMB 14-4 to break open a close game and take a 15-point lead into
the break. After Doran scored a short jumper to pull the Beacons to within two
possessions of the Huskies, the Huskies responded scoring nine straight points
to go ahead 30-16 with 2:36 to play. Daniels, Hebert, senior forward Nick
Gooding (Concord, Calif./Mount Diablo) and senior guard Foster Oakley
(Farmington, Maine/Mt. Blue) each scored two points apiece in the run.
A pair of free throws from freshman guard Anthony Brewster (Boston,
Mass./John D. O’Bryant) and a layup from Maddox halted the Husky run, but Hebert
nailed back-to-back layups to keep the Huskies at a double-digit lead. Gooding
sank one of two free throws in the final minute for the 35-20 score at the
break.
In the second half, UMass Boston pulled to within 13 of Southern Maine on a
three-pointer from Matlock with 15:30 on the clock, but that was as close as UMB
would get the rest of the way as USM quickly ran off 12 straight points to push
the lead to 25 (55-30) and put the game out of reach with 12:15 to play.
Whitaker and Oakley each scored five points in the run, including a pair of
three-pointers.
Southern Maine led by as many as 27 points (66-39) with 7:50 to play and
maintained at least a 16-point advantage the rest of the half to roll to the
win.
USM finished the game shooting a solid 43.5 percent (30-for-69) from the
field and dominated the paint outscoring UMass Boston 26-14 around the basket.
UMass Boston shot 30.5 percent (18-for-59) from the field, but was 42.1 percent
(8-for-19) from three-point range.
Southern Maine and UMass Boston both return to Little East Conference
action on Saturday (3:00 p.m.). USM travels to Rhode Island College while the
UMB travels to Plymouth State University.
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Saturday, February 9, 2008
Southern Maine Rolls Over Eastern Connecticut 80-62
GORHAM, Maine -- Senior forward Drew Coppenrath (Barnet, Vt./St.
Johnsbury Academy) scored a team-high 17 points and senior forward Jamaal
Caterina (Portland, Maine/Deering) added a double-double with 11 points and 11
rebounds to lead the University of Southern Maine Huskies to an 80-62 win over
the Eastern Connecticut State University Warriors Saturday afternoon at Warren
Hill Gymnasium in Gorham, Maine.
With the win, Southern Maine improves to 11-10 overall and 6-4 in the
Little East. Eastern Connecticut dips to 12-9 overall and 5-5 in the
conference. Southern Maine's 11 wins are the most since the 1999-2000 season
when the Huskies finished 13-13 overall. The Huskies' six conference wins are
the most since the 1999-2000 season when USM went 8-6 against conference foes.
Coppenrath led a balanced scoring attack connecting on 6-of-10 from the
field, including 2-for-2 from three-point range, as Southern Maine shot an
outstanding 52.6 percent (30-for-57) for the game. Caterina was 4-for-9 from
the floor and passed off a team-high four assists. Senior guard Josh Daniels
(Everett, Wash./Maine Central Institute) added 15 points, while senior forwards
Ian Hebert (New Gloucester, Maine/Gray-New Gloucester) and Nick Gooding
(Concord, Calif./Mount Diablo) each chipped in with nine points.
Senior forward Leon Martin (Woodbury, Conn./Nonnewaug) led all scorers with
20 points to pace the Warriors. Martin was an outstanding 8-for-14 from the
field and grabbed a team-high nine rebounds. Sophomore guard Edwin Ortiz
(Hartford, Conn./East Catholic) added 16 points on a 7-for-12 effort from the
field.
The Huskies trailed just once in the contest falling behind early, 3-2, on
a three-pointer from Eastern Connecticut junior guard Kris Johnson (Sturbridge,
Mass./Tantasqua Regional) with 19:37 showing on the clock. Despite tying the
score three times in the first half and once in the second Eastern Connecticut
was unable to move ahead of Southern Maine which was able to shake off the
Warriors in the second half.
With the score tied (44-44) with 16:27 remaining in the game following a
pair of free throws from Eastern Connecticut's Martin, the Huskies outscored the
Warriors 11-0 over the next 2:37 to open up a 55-44 lead with 13:50 to play.
The Huskies received scoring contributions from four different players in the
run, including five points from senior guard Foster Oakley (Farmington,
Maine/Mt. Blue). Oakley, who connected on a jumper and three-pointer in the
run, finished the game with seven points.
Eastern Connecticut pulled to within eight (62-54) of the Huskies on a
three-pointer from sophomore guard Jared Willis (New Britain, Conn./Northwest
Catholic) with 7:52 to play, but USM responded with a 7-0 run to build up a 15-
point advantage (69-54) with 6:15 remaining. Daniels, Coppenrath and Caterina
each scored in the run. Eastern Connecticut never got closer than 13 the rest
of the way as the Huskies pulled away.
Southern Maine returns to action at home on Tuesday (7:30) when it hosts
the University of Massachusetts Boston. Eastern Connecticut hosts Western
Connecticut State University on Tuesday (7:30 p.m.).
################################################################################
Saturday, February 2, 2008
No. 5 UMass Dartmouth Pulls Away From Southern Maine 88-69
NORTH DARTMOUTH, Mass. -- Freshman forward Brandon Stephens (Dorchester,
Mass./Newton North) scored 21 points to lead three players in double figures as
the nationally-ranked University of Massachusetts Dartmouth Corsairs defeated
the University of Southern Maine Huskies, 88-69, in a Little East Conference
men's basketball action Saturday afternoon at the Tripp Athletic Center in North
Dartmouth, Mass.
The win was the 19th straight for the undefeated Corsairs who are ranked
fifth in the latest D3hoops.com national poll. The Corsairs remain the only
undefeated team in NCAA Division III men's basketball. The loss snapped a five-
game winning streak for Southern Maine which evens out at 10-10 overall and
dropped to 5-4 in conference action.
Stephens was a sparkling 7-for-9 from the floor, including 4-for-6 from
three-point range. Senior center Dan Holbrook (Lexington, Mass.) recorded a
double-double with 17 points and a game-high 10 rebounds. Senior guard A.J.
Tavares (New Bedford, Mass./New Bedford) tossed in 16 points. Junior guard
Reece Freeman (Cambridge, Mass./Cambridge Rindge & Latin) quarterbacked the
Corsair offense passing off 12 assists to help UMD to an outstanding 54 percent
(34-for-63) shooting mark from the field.
Senior forward Jamaal Caterina (Portland, Maine/Deering) led all scorers
with 22 points and grabbed seven rebounds to pace Southern Maine. Senior
forwards Drew Coppenrath (Barnet, Vt./St. Johnsbury Academy) and Nick Gooding
(Concord, Calif./Mount Diablo) each scored 11 points for USM. Coppenrath joined
Caterina for team honors in rebounding with seven.
With both teams shooting at remarkably high percentages in the first half,
Southern Maine trailed the Corsairs by a single point (36-35) at the break. USM
shot 63.6 percent (14-for-22) from the floor in the first half, while UMass
Dartmouth shot 48.3 percent (14-for-29) from the field. The Corsairs were able
to cling to the one-point advantage making five three-pointers in the first half
compared to USM's three. Caterina scored 12 of his 22 points in the first half
to lead USM, while Tavares netted 13 for UMD.
In the opening minutes of the second half, Southern Maine matched the
Corsairs step-for-step and led 40-38 with 17:43 remaining on a lay-up from
Caterina. Both teams battled back and forth over the next two minutes and the
score was tied for the fifth time in the game (45-45) following a three-pointer
from Gooding with 15:56 to play. The Corsairs took the lead for good on its
next possession on a lay-up from Freeman which ignited a 9-0 run to give UMass
Dartmouth a 54-45 lead with 13:37 to play.
Southern Maine fought back within six (59-53) with 11:21 to play on with
jumpers from Caterina, freshman guard Troy Jellison (Bangor, Maine) and
Coppenrath, but the Corsairs again countered with a 9-0 run, capped by a three-
pointer from sophomore guard Tyler Turtoro (Shelton, Conn.) with 10:22 to play,
for their largest lead of the game to that point (68-53). Southern Maine was
unable to get closer than 12 points the rest of the way.
USM finished the game shooting 51.9 percent (28-for-54) from the floor and
60 percent (6-for-10) from three-point range. The Corsairs connected on 54.0
percent (34-for-63) of their shots, including 55.0 percent (11-for-20) from
three point range.
Southern Maine returns to action next Saturday (3:00 p.m.) when it hosts
LEC opponent Eastern Connecticut State University. UMass Dartmouth travels to
Tufts University on Wednesday (7:00 p.m.) for a non-conference game.
################################################################################
Tuesday, January 29, 2008
Southern Maine Wins Fifth Straight, Defeats Plymouth State 76-65
PLYMOUTH, N.H. -- Senior forward Drew Coppenrath (Barnet, Vt./St.
Johnsbury Academy) recorded a double-double with 23 points and 10 rebounds -
both game highs - to lead the University of Southern Maine Huskies to a 76-65
win over the Plymouth State University Panthers in Little East Conference men's
basketball action Tuesday night at Foley Gymnasium.
With its fifth straight win, Southern Maine improves to 10-9 overall and
5-3 in the Little East. It is the Huskies' first five-game win streak since
January 15-29, 2000. The loss drops Plymouth State to 4-14 overall and 1-7 in
conference action.
Coppenrath was 10-for-17 from the field to lead three USM players in double
figures. Senior forward Jamaal Caterina (Portland, Maine/Deering) added 21
points and seven rebounds, while senior forward Nick Gooding (Concord,
Calif./Mount Diablo) came off the bench to toss in 17 points and grabbed six
rebounds.
Sophomore guard Jason O'Keefe (Everett, Mass./Everett) and sophomore
forward Mike Chergey (Bow, N.H./Bow) each scored 16 points to lead the Panthers.
Senior center Chris Wilkinson (Newmarket, N.H.) and junior guard Ben Huntington
(Hampstead, N.H./Pinkerton Academy) chipped in with 11 points apiece.
The Huskies scored the first 12 points of the game and looked to be in
total control of the game from the start. Caterina scored six of USM's first 12
points and Coppenrath netted four. The Huskies held the Panthers' offense in
check in the opening 7:46 of the game, allowing only six points by the Panthers,
to take a 17-point lead (23-6).
Plymouth State clawed its way back, outscoring USM 19-8 over the next eight
minutes, to trail by six (31-25) with 4:53 on the clock. The Panthers received
scoring contributions from six different players in the run, including six
points from O’Keefe and four points from Wilkinson. USM responded however
outscoring Plymouth State 5-2 down the stretch to lead by nine, 36-27 at the
half.
Led by six points from Chergey and five points from O’Keefe, Plymouth State
rallied in the second half to pull to within one (46-45) in the first six
minutes, but Southern Maine never lost the lead and regained a nine-point
advantage with a 12-4 run over the next five minutes to lead 58-49 with 9:25 to
play. Coppenrath and Gooding each tossed in four each in the run. The Panthers
never got closer than five points the rest of the way as the Huskies held on for
the win as the Huskies converted 8-of-10 free throws in the final 1:21.
Southern Maine finished the game shooting a solid 45.5 percent (25-for-55).
Plymouth State shot 44.8 percent (26-for-58).
Southern Maine travels to North Dartmouth, Mass., on Saturday (3:00 p.m.)
for a Little East Conference contest at the University of Massachusetts
Dartmouth. UMD is ranked fifth in the nation in this week's D3hoops.com poll,
and brings an unbeaten 18-0 record into the game. Plymouth State hosts Western
Connecticut State University on Saturday (3:00 p.m.) for a conference match-up.
################################################################################
Saturday, January 26, 2008
Southern Maine Upends Keene State 77-74
GORHAM, Maine -- Senior forward Jamaal Caterina (Portland,
Maine/Deering), sophomore guard Greg Whitaker (Presque Isle, Maine) and freshman
guard Troy Jellison (Bangor, Maine) each scored 17 points to lead the University
of Southern Maine Huskies men's basketball team to a thrilling, 77-74 win over
the Keene State College Owls in Little East Conference action Saturday afternoon
at Warren Hill Gymnasium in Gorham.
The win was the fourth straight for USM and its sixth in its last seven
contests. USM improves its overall record to 9-9 and 4-3 in the Little East.
Avenging a 106-83 loss earlier in the season, the Huskies snapped a 15-game
losing skid at the hands of the Owls. Southern Maine last defeated Keene State,
88-78, on January 22, 2000. The loss snapped a four-game winning streak for
Keene State which dips to 11-7 overall and 4-3 in the LEC.
Jellison, who came off the bench, was a perfect 6-for-6 from the field,
including a scorching 5-for-5 from three-point range, to establish a career-
high. Jellison, a 5-foot-10 guard, also grabbed a career-high seven rebounds in
an outstanding effort.
Caterina notched his fourth consecutive double-double with 17 points and a
game-high 11 rebounds, while Whitaker was 5-for-8 from three-point range with
seven rebounds. Senior forward Drew Coppenrath (Barnet, Vt./St. Johnsbury
Academy) added 11 points, all in a key second half stretch, and chipped in with
seven rebounds.
Keene State junior forward Tyler Kathan (Ludlow, Vt./Springfield) led all
scorers with 19 points and tallied his seventh double-double of the season with
10 rebounds. Senior forward Nick Drouin (Weare, N.H./John Stark Regional) added
17 point and six rebounds, while senior guard Matt Hickey (Mahopac, N.Y.) tossed
in 13 points.
With the game closely contested with 11 lead changes and nine ties, the
Huskies were able to win it in the final eight minutes in large part to
Coppenrath. The Huskies trailed the Owls by four (58-54) with 7:26 on the clock
after two free throws from Drouin. Coppenrath, who had struggled from the field
for most of game missing his first seven field goal attempts, scored 11 of the
Huskies' final 20 points of the game.
The 6-foot-6 forward pulled his team to within a point of the Owls,
converting a traditional three-point play on a feed from Whitaker who had snared
one of his three offensive boards in the game. The Huskies then made the game's
11th lead change when Caterina made a short range jumper to put USM up by a
point (59-58) with 6:24 to play. Both teams traded shots over the next 1:30 and
Kathan forced the game's eighth tie (62-62) sinking a pair of free throws with
4:56 remaining.
Jellison struck first sinking his fifth three-pointer of the game to give
the Huskies a 65-62 lead with 4:23 on the clock. The teams traded blows over the
next 4:18, leaving the Huskies with a 75-74 advantage with five seconds to play
after Drouin sank three-pointer following a steal and an assist from Hickey.
With three seconds on the clock, KSC was forced to foul, sending Coppenrath
to the line. Coppenrath sank both free throws, and Drouin missed a half-court,
three-point attempt as the buzzer sounded.
Southern Maine returns to action traveling to Plymouth State University on
Tuesday (7:30 p.m.) for an LEC game. Keene State College travels to Eastern
Connecticut State University on Tuesday (7:30 p.m.).
################################################################################
Thursday, January 24, 2008
Southern Maine Slips Past St. Joseph's College, 71-69
STANDISH, Maine -- Sophomore guard Greg Whitaker (Presque Isle, Maine)
recorded his first career double-double with 16 points and 10 rebounds to lead
four players in double figures as the University of Southern Maine Huskies men’s
basketball team edged the St. Joseph’s College Monks, 71-69, in non-conference
men’s basketball action Thursday night at the Alfond Center in Standish, Maine.
Earning their third straight win, and fifth in the last six games, the
Huskies improve to 8-9 overall and secured the Costello Cup, presented to the
winner of the annual contest between the two schools. The loss was the second
straight for the Monks who even out at 7-7 overall. Contested over the last 19
years, the Costello Cup honors former USM Athletic Director and Coach Richard
“Doc” Costello. St. Joseph’s leads the cup series 10-8.
Whitaker was 6-for-14 from the floor with a pair of three-pointers to lead
the Huskies’ offense. Senior forward Jamaal Caterina (Portland, Maine/Deering)
notched his third straight double-double, and fifth in eight games, with 14
points and 10 rebounds. Senior forward Drew Coppenrath (Barnet, Vt./St.
Johnsbury) added 14 points shooting an outstanding 7-for-12 from the floor and
grabbed eight rebounds, and senior guard Foster Oakley (Farmington, Maine/Mt.
Blue) tossed in 12 points on four three-pointers coming off of the bench.
Sophomore forward Raymond Eaton (Huntington, N.Y./Walt Whitman) and Alberto
Rue (Jamaica Plain, Mass./Loomis-Chaffee) paced the Monks with 17 points apiece.
Rue drained 5-of-11 from three-point range to match Eaton for scoring honors off
of the bench. Junior forward Elbie Murphy (Loudonville, N.Y./Albany Academy)
netted 12 points and passed off a game-high six assists.
The Huskies, who jumped out to a 13-point halftime lead, 39-26, and led by
as many as 22, 50-28, at the 16:01 mark of the second half, found themselves in
a dogfight in the final seven minutes of the game.
After going ahead, 50-28, following a pair of free throws from Caterina,
Southern Maine found itself tied with St. Joseph’s, 58-58, with 6:36 to play as
the Monks outscored the Huskies 30-8 over a 10-minute span. Rue and Murphy both
scored nine points in the run, including a trio of three-pointers from Rue.
Both teams traded baskets, with USM receiving a jumper from freshman guard
Troy Jellison (Bangor, Maine) and the Monks netting a lay-up from freshman
forward Chris Davis [New York, N.Y./Hyde School (Conn.)] to remain in a tie at
60-60 with 5:09 to play. The Huskies were able to string together seven
straight points on a jumper from Caterina, a three-pointer from Jellison and a
Coppenrath jumper to go ahead 67-60 with 2:14.
The Monks responded over the next 1:12 with a scoring spurt of their own,
rattling off six points on baskets from Murphy and Eatmon and two free throws
from freshman guard Eric Friend (Portland, Maine/Cheverus) to trail by one 67-66
with 48 seconds to play.
The Huskies were able to hold off the Monks in the final seconds of the
game with clutch free-throw shooting from Caterina and Whitaker who combined for
a 4-for-4 mark from the charity stripe in the last 30 second of the contest,
while the Monks misfired on four of its final five shots.
Southern Maine returns to action on Saturday (3:00 p.m.) when it hosts
Little East Conference foe Keene State College. St. Joseph’s College travels to
Albertus Magnus for a Great Northeast Athletic Conference match up on Saturday
(3:00 pm.).
################################################################################
Tuesday, January 22, 2008
Southern Maine Defeats UMass Boston 72-62
BOSTON -- Senior forward Drew Coppenrath (Barnet, Vt./St. Johnsbury
Academy) scored a game-high 25 points to lead the University of Southern Maine
Huskies to a 72-62 Little East Conference win over the University of
Massachusetts Boston Beacons Tuesday evening at the Clark Athletic Center in
Boston.
Winners of two straight games, and four of their last five, the Huskies
improve to 7-9 overall and even out in the Little East at 3-3. The Beacons have
lost 13 consecutive games to drop to 1-15 overall and they remain winless in
conference action at 0-6.
Coppenrath was an outstanding 10-for-15 from the field for the Huskies,
including a remarkable 5-for-7 effort from three-point range. Senior forward
Jamaal Caterina (Portland, Maine/Deering) notched his fourth double-double of
the season with 14 points and 10 rebounds. Senior guard Josh Daniels (Everett,
Wash./Maine Central Institute) added 10 points and a game-high five assists.
Senior forward Amigo Paniagua (Santiago, Dominican Republic/Dorchester
[Mass.]) led the Beacons with 20 points and seven rebounds. Sophomore Ernst
Jean (Malden, Mass.) added a double-double with 11 points and 10 rebounds as the
only other UMass Boston player in double-figures.
Southern Maine overcame a six-point halftime deficit, outscoring the
Beacons 41-25 in the second half. The Huskies struggled offensively in the
first half shooting just 37.5 percent (12-for-32). Paniagua led the Beacon’s
charge in the first half, scoring 18 of his 20 points in the opening stanza with
a 6-for-9 effort from the field, including a 2-for-2 mark from three-point range
and perfect 4-for-4 performance from the free throw line.
After trading baskets in the opening two minutes of the second half, UMass
Boston maintained its six-point advantage leading 39-33 with 18:16 to play. But
the Huskies quickly erased the deficit, outscoring the Beacons 9-2, on three-
pointers by Caterina, sophomore guard Greg Whitaker (Presque Isle, Maine) and
Daniels over their next three possessions, to leap ahead of the Beacons, 42-41,
with 15:34 on the clock.
Southern Maine’s 9-2 spurt was part of a larger 23-9 run that gave the
Huskies control of the game and an eight-point lead, 56-48, with 10:20 to play.
Coppenrath scored 11 of his 25 points in the run, draining three of his five
three-pointers.
UMass Boston pulled to within four of the Huskies, 57-53, following a free
throw by sophomore Terrell Maddox (Hyannis, Mass./New Mission Hill), but never
got any closer. The Huskies rattled off six straight points, including a pair
of lay-ups from Coppenrath, to build up a 10-point advantage. From there, the
Huskies matched the Beacons point-for-point down the stretch to take the win.
USM returns to action on Thursday (7:00 p.m.) when it travels to nearby
Saint Joseph’s College (Maine) for a non-conference game. UMass Boston hosts
Bates College on Thursday (7:00 p.m.).
################################################################################
Monday, January 21, 2008
Caterina Named Little East Conference Player of the Week
GORHAM, Maine -- Senior forward Jamaal Caterina (Portland, Maine/Deering)
of the University of Southern Maine Huskies men's basketball team has been named
the Little East Conference Player of the Week for the week of January 14-20.
It is the first time in his USM career that Caterina has earned the honor.
The award also marks the first time this season that a Southern Maine player has
been honored by the conference.
Caterina averaged 21 points, nine rebounds, two assists, 1.5 steals and one
blocked shot while shooting an outstanding 51.7 percent (15-for-29) from the
field to lead Southern Maine to a 1-1 week in Little East Conference action.
The 6-foot-6 forward scored a career-high 24 points, including 14 in the
second half, as Southern Maine edged Western Connecticut State, 84-83, on
Saturday. Caterina was 8-for-14 from the floor and 8-for-10 from the free throw
line in the game. He also grabbed six rebounds, had two assists, a blocked shot
and a steal.
In a 70-53 loss to conference co-leader Rhode Island College, Caterina
recorded his third double-double of the season scoring 18 points and pulling
down 12 rebounds.
Since returning to the team in the second semester, Caterina has led the
Huskies in scoring and rebounding, averaging 14.7 points and 8.2 rebounds per
game. He is shooting 43.8 percent (32-for-73) from the field.
Winners of three of its last four games, Southern Maine is 6-9 overall and
2-3 in the Little East. The Huskies return to action on Tuesday night (7:30
p.m.) for an LEC contest at the University of Massachusetts Boston.
################################################################################
Saturday, January 19, 2008
Southern Maine Edges Western Connecticut, 84-83
GORHAM, Maine -- Senior forward Jamaal Caterina (Portland, Maine/Deering)
scored a career-high 24 points, including 14 in the second half, to lead the
University of Southern Maine Huskies to a thrilling, 84-83 win over the Western
Connecticut State University Colonials Saturday afternoon in Little East
Conference men's basketball action at Warren Hill Gymnasium.
With the win, USM improves to 6-9 overall and 2-3 in the Little East. The
loss was the third straight for Western Connecticut which drops 8-5 overall and
2-3 in conference action.
Caterina controlled the post for USM knocking down 8-of-14 from the floor
while making 8-for-10 from the free throw line to lead three Southern Maine
players in double-figures. Senior forward Drew Coppenrath (Barnet, Vt./St.
Johnsbury Academy) recorded his first 'double-double' of the season with 18
points and a season-high 11 rebounds. It was Coppenrath's sixth 'double-double'
of his career. Senior guard Josh Daniels (Everett, Wash./Maine Central
Institute) added 14 points and three assists.
Junior guard Dashon Jennings (Bridgeport, Conn./Bassick) and sophomore
guard Tyshawn Gillespie (Hartford, Conn./Glastonbury) led the Colonials with 18
points apiece. Freshman guard Michael Jensen (Gales Ferry, Conn./Ledyard) came
off the bench to score 15 points, including three three-point field goals.
Both teams shot well in the first half and entered the break tied at 38-38.
USM shot 51.6 percent (16-for-31) from the field in the opening stanza, while
Western Connecticut shot 46.7 percent (14-for-30) from the floor, including a
remarkable 58.3 percent (7-for-12) from three-point range. Jensen connected on
all three of his three-pointers in the first half, while Jennings made two of
his three.
The Colonials held a 32-23 lead with 5:58 to play in the first half after
Jensen's final three-pointer. USM used an 11-2 run over the next four minutes
to knot the score at 34-34 with 2:02 remaining. Coppenrath scored five of his
points in the run, while Caterina added four. USM took a 38-36 lead with nine
seconds left following a dunk from senior forward Nick Gooding (Concord,
Calif./Mount Diablo), but Western Connecticut beat the buzzer on a jumper from
junior forward Marcus Mann (Windsor, Conn./The Master's School).
USM scored the first basket of the second half to retake the lead and led
by as many as 12 points, 74-62, with 6:27 to play before the Western Connecticut
staged a rally.
After shooting 70.8 percent from the field ( 17-of-28) in the first 15
minutes of the second half, the Huskies were leading, 78-69, with 5:14 to play.
Over the final five minutes, the Huskies combined for an 0-for-3 effort from the
floor, committed five turnovers and shot 6-for-12 mark from the foul line.
Conversely, Western Connecticut barreled its way back into the game with a
14-4 run over the next four minutes to go ahead, 83-82, with 1:24 to play.
Gillespie used his speed during the run to get to the basket and force USM
defenders to commit, scoring 10 of the Colonials' 14 points on a pair of coast-
to-coast lay-ups and a 6-for-6 mark from the free throw line. Gillespie's final
two free throws capped the run and put his team ahead by a single point, but
were the last points of the game for Western Connecticut.
Coppenrath gave the lead back to the Huskies, 84-83, with a pair of free
throws with a minute remaining before both teams misfired on their final
possessions to close out the game. Western Connecticut had a chance to score
the game-winning basket after USM missed a pair of free throws with four seconds
remaining, but the Colonials were unable to get a shot off before the buzzer
expired.
Southern Maine finished the game shooting 56.9 percent (33-for-58) from the
floor, while Western Connecticut finished the game shooting 48.1 percent (25-
for-52).
Southern Maine travels to the University of Massachusetts Boston on Tuesday
(7:30 p.m.) for a Little East Conference game. Western Connecticut hosts LEC
rival Eastern Connecticut State University on Tuesday (7:30 p.m.).
################################################################################
Tuesday, January 15, 2008
Rhode Island College Downs Southern Maine 70-53
GORHAM, Maine -- Junior guard Tirrell Hill (Bronx, N.Y./All Hallows)
scored a game-high 19 points to lead four player in double figures as the Rhode
Island College Anchormen defeated the University of Southern Maine Huskies, 70-
53, in Little East Conference men’s basketball action Tuesday night at Warren
Hill Gymnasium in Gorham. The start of the game was delayed for nearly an hour
by a power failure.
With the win, Rhode Island College improves to 12-2 overall and remains
undefeated in the LEC with a 4-0 mark. The loss snaps a two-game winning streak
for the Huskies who dip to 5-9 overall and 1-3 in conference action.
Hill was an outstanding 9-for-13 from the field en route to his game high
19 points. Junior center Wil Lyons (Warwick, Rhode Island/Pilgrim) added 16
points off of the bench for the Anchormen on a stellar 6-for-9 mark from the
field. Junior guard Bobby Bailey (Fall River, Mass./Durfee) and freshman guard
Antone Gray (Providence, Rhode Island/St. Raphael) each tossed in 11 points.
Gray also had a game-high six assists.
USM senior forward Jamaal Caterina (Portland, Maine/Deering) led the way
for the Huskies posting his third straight double-double with 18 points and 12
rebounds. Caterina was 7-for-15 from the field, including 2-for-2 from three-
point range. Senior forward Drew Coppenrath (Barnet, Vt./St. Johnsbury Academy)
added 10 points.
After five lead changes and six ties in the first 16 minutes of the game,
the score was tied at 26-26 with 4:43 on the clock. Rhode Island College was
able to put some distance between itself and USM in the closing minutes of the
first half, outscoring the Huskies, 8-2, to take a 34-28 lead at the break.
Gray and Hill accounted for all eight of the RIC points in the run scoring four
apiece.
RIC picked up where it left off in the second half, opening up a 10-point
lead, 41-31, with a 7-3 run in the first three minutes. Hill tallied a pair of
layups in the run.
The Anchormen maintained at least a six-point advantage over the next eight
minutes before pulling away from the Huskies.
Caterina pulled Southern Maine to within six, 53-47, on a pair of free
throws with 8:59 to play. However, RIC’s defense held USM to just 2-for-7
shooting and forced four turnovers over the final nine minutes as RIC outscored
USM, 17-6, to account for the final score.
RIC finished the game shooting 50 percent (31-for-62) from the field,
including a scorching 60 percent (15-for-25) in the second half. A majority of
the Anchormen’s points came from near the basket as RIC outscored USM 44-18 in
the paint. Southern Maine shot 41.2 percent (21-for-51) from the floor, and was
hampered by 20 turnovers.
Southern Maine returns to action at home when it hosts Western Connecticut
State University on Saturday (3:00 p.m.). Rhode Island College hosts Eastern
Connecticut State University on Saturday.
################################################################################
Saturday, January 12, 2008
Southern Maine Holds On To Defeat Eastern Connecticut 76-72
WILLIMANTIC, Conn. -- Senior forward Drew Coppenrath (Barnet, Vt./St.
Johnsbury Academy) scored a team-high 16 points and senior forward Jamaal
Caterina (Portland, Maine/Deering) notched his second consecutive double-double
with 15 points and a game-high 10 rebounds to lead the University of Southern
Maine Huskies to a 76-72 win over the Eastern Connecticut State University
Warriors in Little East Conference men's basketball action Saturday afternoon at
Geissler Gymnasium in Willimantic, Conn.
Earning their second straight win, the Huskies improve to 5-8 overall and
1-2 in the Little East. The loss drops Eastern Connecticut to 7-5 overall and
2-1 in conference action.
Coppenrath led four USM players in double figures with a solid 6-for-11
effort from the field, including a 2-for-3 mark from three-point range.
Coming off the bench, senior forward Nick Gooding (Concord, Calif./Mount
Diablo) added 12 points and seven rebounds while senior guard Foster Oakley
(Farmington, Maine/Mt. Blue) tossed in 10 points. The Huskies bench proved to be
a deciding factor in the game, outscoring the Eastern Connecticut reserves,
27-6.
Sophomore guard Greg Whitaker (Presque Isle, Maine) and freshman guard Luke
Pollock (Eliot, Maine/Marshwood) each chipped in with nine points for USM.
Eastern Connecticut freshman guard Courtney Simmons (Middletown,
Conn./Xavier) led all scorers with 24 points on a tremendous 10-for-14 shooting
performance. Sophomore guard Edwin Ortiz (Hartford, Conn./East Catholic) and
senior forward Leon Martin (Woodbury, Conn./Nonnewaug) added 15 and 12 points
respectively.
After jumping out to a 37-31 lead at the break, Southern Maine found itself
in a dogfight with Eastern Connecticut as the teams battle back and forth in a
second half that featured six lead changes and six ties. Neither team led by
more than six points in the second stanza.
The Warriors and Huskies found themselves tied for the fifth time at 63-63
after Martin made two freebies with 4:52 remaining. Following a layup by Oakley
that restored a two-point edge for USM, Eastern Connecticut junior guard Larry
Kelley (New Haven, Conn./Hill Regional Center) buried a three-pointer that put
the Warriors back ahead by one. USM's Pollock then converted two free throws to
give his team a one-point advantage, 67-66, with 3:54 to play.
USM maintained the advantage over the next two minutes as the two teams
exchanged scores. Eastern Connecticut took its final lead, 72-71, on back-to-
back lay-ups from Martin and Ortiz.
However, Southern Maine quickly regained the lead on a pair of free throws
from Coppenrath with 54 seconds to go. From there, the Huskies used timely free
throw shooting, knocking down 3-of-4 in the final 32 seconds and solid defensive
pressure, including blocks from Gooding and Oakley, to secure the win.
Southern Maine returns to action at home on Tuesday (7:30 p.m.) against
Rhode Island College. Eastern Connecticut plays at the University of
Massachusetts Dartmouth on Tuesday (7:30 p.m.).
################################################################################
Tuesday, January 8, 2007
Southern Maine Downs Husson 73-65
BANGOR, Maine -- Senior forward Drew Coppenrath (Barnet, Vt.) scored 16
points and senior forward Jamaal Caterina (Portland, Maine/Deering) added 12
points and pounded the glass for a career-high 14 rebounds to lead the
University of Southern Maine Huskies to a 73-65 win over the Husson College
Eagles Tuesday night at the Newman Gymnasium in Bangor.
The win snaps a two-game slide for the Huskies who improve to 4-8 overall.
The loss drops the Eagles to 4-5 overall.
Coppenrath scored his team-high 16 points on a 6-for-11 effort from the
field, while Caterina recorded his first career double-double for the Huskies.
Senior forward Nick Gooding (Concord, Calif./Mount Diablo) added 13 points and
eight rebounds off of the bench and sophomore guard Greg Whitaker (Presque Isle,
Maine/Presque Isle) chipped in with 10 points and nine rebounds.
Sophomore guard Brock Bradford (Kenduskeag, Maine/Bangor Christian) led
three Eagles in double-figures with a game-high 19 points on 7-for-16 shooting
from the floor. Junior forward Scott Kissinger (Islip Terrace, N.Y.) added 16
points and junior guard Fabian Figueroa (Bronx, N.Y./Strom King) tossed in 11
points off of the bench.
With the scored tied at 60-60 with just under four minutes to play in the
game, Southern Maine outscored Husson, 13-5, down the stretch to earn a win in
its first game of 2008. The Huskies received points from five different players
in the final four minutes of action to pull away from the Eagles.
Southern Maine trailed Husson by a narrow 33-31 margin entering into the
second half. Both teams battled back and forth in the closely contested game
that featured four ties and 11 lead changes. The Eagles held their largest
lead, 49-44, with 12:57 remaining following a three-pointer from Bradford, but
USM battled back to go ahead by one point, 50-49, on back-to-back three-pointers
from Coppenrath and freshman guard Troy Jellison (Bangor, Maine).
The Eagles held their final lead of the game, 51-50, on a jumper from
Kissinger, but the Huskies answered right back with a jumper from Caterina on
their next possession for a 52-51 lead with 10:04 to play and never trailed the
rest of the way.
Trailing 58-53 following a jumper from Gooding with 5:44 left, Husson
outscored USM 7-2 over the next two minutes to knot the score at 60-60 when
Kissinger drained his second three-pointer of the contest with 3:59 to play.
However, USM was able to hold off the Eagles, countering with an 8-0 spurt on
baskets from senior Foster Oakley (Mt. Vernon, Maine/Mt. Blue), Whitaker,
Caterina and Coppenrath over the next two-and-a-half minutes to retake control.
Southern Maine returns to action on Saturday (3:00 p.m.) when it plays at
Little East Conference opponent Eastern Connecticut State University. Husson
College travels to Colby College on Thursday (7:00 p.m.).
################################################################################
Monday, December 31, 2007
Concordia Downs Southern Maine 87-61
IRVINE, Calif. -- Senior guard Rafael DaSilva (San Paulo, Brazil/St.
Mary’s) scored a game-high 23 points to lead the nationally-ranked Concordia
University Eagles to an 87-61 win over the University of Southern Maine Huskies
late Sunday night at the Surf City Classic in Irvine, California.
Ranked third in the nation in the latest NAIA Division I poll, the Eagles
improved to 11-1 overall with their seventh consecutive win. Southern Maine
falls to 3-8 overall after suffering its second straight loss.
DaSilva led three Eagles players in double-figures as senior guard Ryan
Read (Vista, Calif./The Master’s), sophomore guard Terrence Worthy (San Jose,
Calif./Valley Christian) and DaSilva combined to score 51 points. Read scored
16 points, including four three-pointers, while Worthy chipped in with 12
points.
Concordia, an Irvine, California-based school, raced out to a 13-2 lead in
the first four minutes of the opening half and dominated Southern Maine over the
first 20 minutes to take a commanding 52-22 halftime lead. The Eagles forced 19
first half turnovers by Southern Maine and converted them into 30 of their 52
points. Concordia also shot a blistering 62.1 percent (18-for-29) from the
field and were 9-for-17 from three-point range (52.9 percent).
Southern Maine managed to cut the Concordia lead to 19-12 with 10:11 to
play in the first half after senior forward Jamaal Caterina (Portland,
Maine/Deering) made one of two free throws, but the Eagles rattled off 13
straight points to extend their lead to 32-12 with 6:19 to play. Senior forward
Nick Gooding (Concord, Calif./Mount Diablo) halted the Eagles scoring spurt with
a traditional three-point play, but Concordia outscored USM 14-0 over the next
four minutes to build a 46-15 advantage. Six different Concordia players scored
baskets.
During the 27-3 stretch, Concordia forced 10 USM turnovers and limited the
Huskies to just six field goal attempts. USM finished the half just 9-of-25
from the field (36 percent).
In the second half, USM kept pace with Concordia, but never got closer than
26 points. Senior forward Drew Coppenrath (Barnet, Vermont/St. Johnsbury
Academy) and Caterina each scored 15 points for the Huskies and combined for 12
rebounds.
Southern Maine returns to action on January 8 (7:30 p.m. EST) when it
travels to Bangor, Maine, to take on Husson College. Concordia returns to
action on January 8 (7:30 p.m. PST) against Vanguard University.
################################################################################
Saturday, December 29, 2007
Occidental Downs Southern Maine 69-46
IRVINE, Calif. -- Senior guard Connor Whitman (Los Angeles, Calif./Loy-
ola) and junior guard Huston Conti (Seattle, Wash./Edmonds Woodway) combined to
scored 35 points to lead the Occidental College Tigers to a 69-46 win over the
University of Southern Maine Huskies Friday night at the Surf City Classic in
Irvine, Calif.
With the loss, the Huskies drop to 3-7 overall. The win is the fifth
straight for the Tigers who improve to 6-1 overall.
Whitman scored 18 points while Conti added 17 points as the only two
players to reach double-figures for the Tigers. Senior forward Henry Meier
(Sacramento, Calif./Waldorf School) chipped in with nine points off of the
bench.
Senior forward Drew Coppenrath (Barnet, Vt./St. Johnsbury Academy) led the
Huskies with team high totals of 13 points and eight rebounds.
Whitman and Conti led the Tigers’ charge in the first half as the Los
Angeles, Calif., based school raced out to a 28-16 halftime lead. Whitman
scored 11 points in the half and Conti added nine.
Southern Maine led early taking a 5-2 advantage two minutes into the half
on a three-pointer by Coppenrath, but the Tigers scored the next nine points,
including five by Whitman, to grab the lead for good.
Occidental finished the game shooting a solid 46.4 percent (26-for-56) from
the field and was 43.6 percent (7-for-16) from three-point range. Southern
Maine, playing for the first time since December 14, struggled offensively
shooting just 27.8 percent (15-for-54).
Southern Maine returns to action on Sunday (8:00 p.m. PST) when it plays
Concordia (Calif.) University. Occidental hosts Illinois Wesleyan University on
Saturday (7:30 p.m. PST).
################################################################################
Friday, December 14, 2007
Second Half Surge Lifts USM Past UMF, 58-48
FARMINGTON, Maine -- Sophomore guard Greg Whitaker (Presque Isle, Maine)
and senior forward Ian Hebert (New Gloucester, Maine/Gray-New Gloucester)
combined to score 33 points and grab 18 rebounds to lead the University of
Southern Maine Huskies to a 58-48, come-from-behind win over the University of
Maine Farmington Beavers Friday night at Dearborn Gymnasium in Farmington,
Maine.
With the win, Southern Maine halts a five-game skid and improves to 3-6
overall. The loss drops UMaine Farmington to 5-4 overall.
Whitaker scored a game-high 18 points and grabbed eight rebounds to lead
Southern Maine. The 6-5 guard was 7-for-14 from the field, including four
three-pointers. Hebert equaled his career-high with 15 points and snatched a
game-high 10 rebounds to record his second double-double of the season. Both
Whitaker and Hebert were essential in the Huskies’ second half rally as USM
outscored the Beavers 37-17. Whitaker scored 15 of his 18 points and Hebert
tallied 11 points in the second stanza.
Senior forwards Sean Fry (Jay, Maine) and Isaac Hutchinson (Oakland, Maine)
each scored 12 points to lead the Beavers.
Southern Maine trailed UMaine Farmington, 31-21, at the half after shooting
an ice cold 27.3 percent (9-for-33) in the opening 20 minutes. Conversely, the
Beavers were on target in the opening frame shooting 47.8 percent (11-for-23)
from the floor, including 45.5 percent (5-for-11) mark from three-point range.
Fry totaled nine of his 12 in the opening half, while Hutchinson chipped in with
eight.
The Huskies opened the second half outscoring UMaine Farmington 9-0 in the
first five minutes to trail by a point, 31-30, with 15:14 on the clock.
Whitaker keyed the surge, knocking down a mid-range jumper.
The Beavers responded with a jumper from junior forward Ted Neil (Strong,
Maine) to lead 33-30 on their next possession, but Whitaker connected on back-
to-back three-pointers to give USM its first lead of the game, 36-33, with 14:12
remaining.
A pair of unanswered lay-ups from freshman guard Andrew Dean (Gorham,
Maine) and Hutchinson returned the lead to the Beavers momentarily, but Whitaker
drained his third three-pointer of the second half to give Southern Maine the
lead for good, 39-37, with 9:12 to play.
After Whitaker’s clutch shooting, Hebert shouldered the bulk of the
offense. Hebert scored nine of the Huskies’ final 17 points, including a 5-6
effort from the free throw line.
Southern Maine returns to action on December 28 (9:00 p.m. EST) when it
travels to Irvine, California, to participate in the Surf City Class. The
Huskies will face Occidental College. UMaine Farmington is off until January 4
(7:00 p.m.) when it travels to Bowdoin College for a non-conference match up.
################################################################################
Tuesday, December 11, 2007
UNE Hangs On Against Southern Maine, 66-65
BIDDEFORD, Maine -- Junior guard Jaykryi Simpson (East Cleburne, Texas)
scored a game-high 26 points to lead the University of New England Nor’easters
to a 66-65, come-from-behind victory over the University of Southern Maine
Huskies in a non-conference men’s basketball game Tuesday evening in Biddeford.
With the win, the Nor’easters inch above .500 to improve to 5-4. The loss
is the fifth in the row for Southern Maine which falls to 2-6 overall.
Simpson was an outstanding 12-for-14 from the field. The 6-3 guard also
grabbed six rebounds, and had three steals and a game-high six assists to lead
the Nor’easters.
Senior forward Isaac Stickney (Rumford, Maine/Mountain Valley) added 18
points on a 7-for-11 effort from the floor. Junior guard Johnnie Jefferson
(Dallas, Texas/David W. Carter) chipped in with 14 points and five rebounds.
Senior forward Drew Coppenrath (Barnet, Vt./St. Johnsbury Academy) led
three Southern Maine players in double figures with 20 points. Coppenrath also
had eight rebounds, three assists and three blocked shots. Senior forward Ian
Hebert (Gray, Maine/Gray-New Gloucester) scored 15 points and grabbed seven
rebounds, while sophomore guard Greg Whitaker (Presque Isle, Maine) chipped in
with 13 points and seven rebounds.
The Nor’easters battled back from a 38-33, halftime deficit taking the lead
with 9:12 remaining in the game on a lay-up from Simpson. Simpson was 6-for-7
from the floor in the second half leading the Nor’easter comeback. After
helping UNE take a one-point lead, 53-52, Simpson increased his team’s advantage
to five notching back-to-back lay-ups to give the Nor’easters a 57-52 lead with
seven minutes showing on the clock.
The teams battled back and forth over the final seven minutes of the game,
with UNE maintaining between a three to five-point lead. Southern Maine pulled
to with a point of the Nor’easters in the final 1:53 of the game on a lay-up
from Coppenrath, but the Huskies misfired on its final four possessions of the
game as the Nor’easters held on for the win.
UNE finished the game shooting 55.1 percent (27-for-49) for the game,
committing just 12 turnovers. The Huskies shot 47.4 percent (27-for-57).
Southern Maine returns to action on Friday (7:30 p.m.) when it travels to
the University of Maine at Farmington. UNE hosts the University of Maine at
Presque Isle on January 4 (7:30 p.m.) at the Jim Beaudry Classic.
################################################################################
Saturday, December 8, 2007
UMass Dartmouth Holds Off Southern Maine 58-50
GORHAM, Maine -- Senior forward Cory Tynes (Springfield, Mass./Commerce)
scored a game-high 16 points to lead the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth
Corsairs to a 58-50 win over the University of Southern Maine Huskies in Little
East Conference men's basketball action Saturday afternoon at Warren Hill
Gymnasium.
Earning their seventh straight win, the Corsairs remain undefeated by
winning their third straight game by eight or fewer points and improved to 2-0
in the LEC. The Huskies, who dropped their fourth straight game, fall to 2-5
overall and 0-2 in the LEC.
Tynes was one of two Corsair players to reach double-digits in scoring as
both teams struggled offensively. Tynes was 8-for-17 from the floor and added
eight rebounds. Sophomore guard Tyler Turtoro (Shelton, Conn.) chipped in with
11 points, draining a trio of three-pointers, off of the bench.
Senior center Dan Holbrook (Lexington, Mass.) had 13 rebounds for the
Corsairs, while senior guard Reece Freeman (Cambridge, Mass./Cambridge Rindge &
Latin) tossed in eight points and had a game-high five assists.
Senior forward Ian Hebert (New Gloucester, Maine/Gray-New Gloucester)
recorded a double-double for the Huskies with 14 points and 14 rebounds - both
career-high totals. Freshman guard Phil Broomfield (Hackensack, N.J.) added 11
points, eight rebounds and three steals.
Both teams struggled to put points on the board in the first half entering
the break in a 19-19 stalemate. Southern Maine quickly opened up a seven-point
lead to start the second half. In the span of one minute, the Huskies used a
lay-up by Hebert, three straight free throws from senior forward Drew Coppenrath
(Barnet, Vt./St. Johnsbury Academy) and a jumper by sophomore guard Greg
Whitaker (Presque Isle, Maine) to lead UMass Dartmouth 26-19 with 18:54 to play.
USM maintained its seven-point advantage over the next four minutes before
the Corsairs used an 8-0 spurt to pull themselves into a neck-and-neck race with
the Huskies. Senior guard A.J. Tavares (New Bedford, Mass.) started the Corsair
rally netting five unanswered points before freshman forward Brandon Stephens
(Dorchester, Mass.) drained his only three-pointer of the game to give his team
a one-point lead, 31-30, with 13:39 to play.
Southern Maine tied the scored on a free throw from Broomfield, but
Freeman's lay-up with 13:07 remaining gave the Corsairs back the lead which they
would not relinquish. The Huskies stayed close trailing 42-40 with 8:33 to play
after a Broomfield three-pointer, but the Corsairs answered right back and
pulled away from USM with an 11-0 run. USM was unable to get any closer than
five points down the stretch, as the Corsairs connected on 5-of-6 free throws in
the final minute of action.
Southern Maine returns to action on Tuesday (7:30 p.m.) when it travels to
nearby University of New England for a non-conference game. UMass Dartmouth
hosts Johnson & Wales University on Wednesday (7:30 p.m.).
################################################################################
Wednesday, December 5, 2007
Colby Rolls Over Southern Maine 86-65
GORHAM, Maine -- Junior guard Artie Cutrone (Garden City, N.J.) scored a
game-high 17 points to lead five players in double figures as the Colby College
Mules defeated the University of Southern Maine Huskies, 86-65, in a non-
conference men's basketball game Wednesday night at the Warren Hill Gymnasium.
The win keeps the Mules’ record perfect at 6-0. The loss is the third
straight for the Huskies who fall to 2-4 overall.
Cutrone, who scored 14 of his 17 points in the first half, was 7-for-10
from the floor and added three assists and three steals for the Mules.
Sophomore forward Adam Choice (Newport, R.I./St. Georges School) added 13
points, while senior guard Mark Gaudet (Bingham, Maine/Valley) and junior guard
Mac Simpson (Casco, Maine/Loomis Chaffee) tossed in 12 points each. Freshman
forward Michael Russell (Wellesley, Mass.) added a double-double with 11 points
and 11 rebounds off of the bench.
Senior forward Ian Hebert (New Gloucester, Maine/Gray-New Gloucester) led
USM with 11 points and six rebounds. Sophomore guard Greg Whitaker (Presque
Isle, Maine) was the only other USM player to reach double figures with 10
points.
Colby scored the first 11 points of the game, connecting on its first five
field goals in the opening three minutes, and never looked back en route to the
win. The Mules led by as many as 26 points, 38-12, with 6:33 remaining in the
half, before the Huskies rallied to cut the deficit to 12 at the break. The
Huskies outscored the Mules, 18-4, over the final six minutes of the half to
pull themselves back into the game. Hebert scored seven of his 11 points in the
run.
In the second half, Colby wasted little time regaining its 20-point edge
opening the half with a 14-6 run to lead 56-36 with 15:35 to play. Choice
scored five points in the run, while Cutrone, Gaudet and Simpson each connected
on a three-pointer. Southern Maine never got closer than 20 the rest of the way
as Colby cruised to the win.
The Mules shot an outstanding 52.3 percent (34-for-65) from the field and
were 40.9 percent from three-point range (9-for-22). Southern Maine finished
the game shooting 40.0 percent (26-for-65). Colby also held a decisive 44-26
edge on the boards.
Southern Maine returns to action on Saturday (3:00 p.m.) when it host
Little East Conference foe, the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth. Colby
plays in-state NESCAC rival Bowdoin College on Saturday (2:00 p.m.) at Thomas
College.
################################################################################
Saturday, December 1, 2007
Keene State Overpowers Southern Maine 106-83
KEENE, N.H. -- The nationally-ranked Keene State College Owls placed
seven players in double-figures to open their Little East Conference season with
a 106-83 win over the University of Southern Maine Huskies Saturday afternoon at
Spaulding Gymnasium on the campus of Keene State College.
Keene State, ranked 19th in the latest D3hoops.com poll, extended its
unbeaten streak to five with the win, improving to 5-0 overall. KSC has now
beaten USM 16 straight games. Suffering its second consecutive loss, Southern
Maine drops to 2-3 overall. The game was the conference opener for both clubs.
Senior guard Matt Hickey (Mahopac, N.Y.) led a balanced scoring attack for
Keene State with 17 points, while junior forward Tyler Kathan (Ludlow,
Vt./Springfield) added 16 points and a game-high eight rebounds. Senior guard
Kevin Ritter (Hopewell Junction, Vt./John Jay) and senior forward Nick Drouin
(Weare, N.H./John Stark) each added 13 points. Sophomore forward Travon Little
(Danbury, Conn.) and senior guard Anthony Licitra (Glastonbury, Conn.) scored 12
points a piece, and senior guard Shiwon Davis (Bridgeport, Conn.) rounded out
the double-digit scorers with 11 points.
Senior forward Drew Coppenrath (Barnet, Vt./St. Johnsbury Academy) led all
scorers with a career-high 28 points. Coppenrath was an outstanding 12-for-21
from the field, including a 3-for-4 mark from three-point range. Sophomore
guard Greg Whitaker (Presque Isle, Maine) added 18 points on an 8-for-12
shooting effort, and senior forward Ian Hebert (New Gloucester, Maine/Gray-New
Gloucester) chipped in with 12 points.
Keene State jumped out to a commanding 62-37 halftime lead after shooting a
blistering 52.5 percent (21-for-40), including 6-for-13 from three-point range,
to open the game. The Owls finished the game shooting 50.7 percent (37-for-73)
from the floor and 48 percent (12-for-25) from three-point range. The Owls were
consistent from the free throw line knocking down 20-of-24 shots (83.3 percent).
Southern Maine shot well for the game finishing with a 54.8 percent mark
from the field (34-for-62), but was hampered by 20 turnovers. The Huskies also
had a disadvantage from the charity stripe getting just nine attempts (making
eight) and on the boards where they were out rebounded 39-28.
Southern Maine returns to action on Wednesday (7:30 p.m.) at home against
Colby College. Keene State hosts Tufts University on Tuesday (7:30 p.m.).
################################################################################
Tuesday, November 27, 2007
Bowdoin Surges Past Southern Maine 59-47
Polar Bears Rally From Seven-Point Halftime Deficit
GORHAM, Maine -- Senior guard Andrew Hippert (Worcester, Mass./St. John’s
HS) scored 16 of his game-high 19 points in the second half to lead the Bowdoin
College Polar Bears to a 59-47 win over the University of Southern Maine Huskies
in a non-conference men’s basketball game Tuesday night at Warren G. Hill
Gymnasium in Gorham.
Earning its third straight victory, Bowdoin improves to 4-1 overall. The
loss snapped a two-game winning streak for Southern Maine which evens out at
2-2.
Hippert was one of two Polar Bears in double-figures, tallying his 19
points on a 7-for-14 effort from the field, including a 4-for-6 mark from three-
point range. Junior forward Kyle Jackson (Acton, Mass./Acton-Boxborough) added
10 points and six rebounds.
Southern Maine freshman Broderic Jones (Garland, Texas/Ennis) paced the
Huskies with 17 points off of the bench. Senior forward Drew Coppenrath
(Barnet, Vt./St. Johnsbury Academy) chipped in with 10 points and a game-high
nine rebounds.
Trailing by seven points, 28-21, at the break after a buzzer-beating three
from Jones, Bowdoin rallied in the second half outscoring USM 38-19 for the win.
The Polar Bears scored the first 13 points of the second stanza to take 34-28
lead with 13:34 showing on the clock and never looked back. Jackson scored six
of his 10 points in the run, while Hippert capped the scoring surge with one of
his four second half three-pointers.
Southern Maine stayed close, keeping it to a two-possession contest midway
through the half and trailed by four points, 41-37, following a three-pointer
from freshman guard Luke Pollock (Eliot, Maine/Marshwood).
But Bowdoin outscored USM 7-0 over the next two minutes to take a double-
digit lead. Junior forward Darian Reid-Sturgis (New Canaan, Conn./New Canaan)
scored four of his six points on a pair of short-range jumpers while Hippert
added a three-pointer.
Bowdoin led by as many as 17 points, 59-42, with under a minute to play,
before Southern Maine scored the final two field goals of the contest for the
59-47 final.
After shooting 41.4 percent (12-for-29) in the first half, Southern Maine
made just 28 percent (7-of-25) of its shots in the second half to finish with a
35.2 field goal percentage. Bowdoin shot 43.9 percent (25-for-57) from the
floor, including a blistering 16-for-29 mark (55.2 percent) in the second half.
Bowdoin, led by senior Andrew Sargeantson (New Caanan, Conn.), had a 44-25
advantage on the boards.
Southern Maine returns to action on Saturday (3:00 p.m.) for its Little
East Conference opener at nationally-ranked Keene State College. Bowdoin
returns to action on Saturday (7:00 p.m.) at Bates College.
################################################################################
Wednesday, November 21, 2007
Coppenrath Named MMBCWA Player of the Week
GORHAM, Maine -- Senior forward Drew Coppenrath (Barnet, Vt./St.
Johnsbury Academy) of the University of Southern Maine Huskies men’s basketball
team has been named the Maine Men’s Basketball Coaches and Writers Association
(MMBCWA) Player of the Week for the week ending November 19.
Coppenrath led the Huskies to a 1-1 record in their opening week and a
third place finish at the 2007 University of Maine Farmington Men’s Basketball
Tip Off Tournament. The 6-foot, 6-inch forward averaged 18 points, 5.5
rebounds, 2.5 blocks, 1.5 steals and 1.0 assist per game, earning all-tournament
honors.
“Drew has improved his game every day since joining the team,” noted USM
head coach Karl Henrikson. “He plays to the highest level of his ability and
has been leader for us in practice and in games.”
In Southern Maine’s 67-58 loss to Trinity College in the opening game of
the tournament, Coppenrath was 6-for-11 from the field for 16 points and grabbed
a team-high eight rebounds. In the Huskies’ 113-48 win over the University of
Maine Presque Isle in the third place game, Coppenrath led USM with 20 points,
three rebounds, two assists, three steals and two blocked shots.
Including USM’s 62-59 victory this past Tuesday night over Bates College,
Coppenrath is the Huskies’ leading scorer and rebounder, averaging 15.7 points
and 5.7 rebounds per game. He is shooting 51.6 percent (16-for-31) from the
field and 50 percent from three-point range (5-for-10).
Southern Maine, 2-1 overall, returns to action after a brief Thanksgiving
break at home at home on Tuesday (8:00 p.m.) against Bowdoin College.
################################################################################
Tuesday, November 20, 2007
Southern Maine Sneaks Past Bates 62-59
GORHAM, Maine -- Sophomore forward Greg Whitaker (Presque Isle,
Maine/Presque Isle) led three players in double-figures with a game-high 18
points as the University of Southern Maine Huskies ground out a 62-59 win over
the Bates College Bobcats Tuesday evening at Warren G. Hill Gymnasium in Gorham,
Maine.
Whitaker was 6-for-12 from the field and a perfect 4-for-4 from the free
throw line in the final 27 seconds of the game as the Huskies earned their
second straight victory to improve to 2-1. The Bobcats remain winless at 0-3.
Whitaker had a solid all-around game for the Huskies grabbing eight
rebounds, passing off five assists, and blocking a shot. Senior guard Josh
Daniels (Everett, Wash./Maine Central Institute) joined Whitaker in double-digit
scoring with 17 points, while senior forward Drew Coppenrath (Barnet, Vt./St.
Johnsbury Academy) tossed in 11 points.
Freshman guard Brian Ellis (Braintree, Mass./Braintree) led four Bobcats in
double-figures with 17 points on a 5-for-7 effort from the field. Senior guard
Pat Halloran (Plymouth, N.H./Phillips Exeter) scored 13 points off of the bench
for the Bobcats, while senior guard Bryan Wholey (Marshfield, Mass./Boston
College High) and sophomore forward Jimmy O'Keefe (Lexington, Mass./Lexington)
each scored 10 points.
In a closely contested game that featured eight ties and 16 lead changes,
Southern Maine came out on top. Ahead by nine, 56-47, following a three-pointer
from Coppenrath with 3:02 remaining, USM saw its lead dwindle to two points in
just over a minute. Bates used five straight points from Halloran on a jump
shot and a three-pointer and a pair of free throws from Ellis to pull within a
bucket of the Huskies, 56-54, with 1:46 remaining.
Daniels answered for USM making a short jumper off of a driving feed from
freshman guard Phil Broomfield (Hackensack, N.J./Hackensack) on the next play,
but Ellis again brought the Bobcats two within two points, 58-56, with 30
seconds showing on the clock.
Forced to foul, Bates sent Whitaker to the line for a one-and-one
situation, with 27 seconds remaining. Whitaker knocked down both free throws
for a 60-56 lead, but Halloran spotted up on the right wing for his second
three-pointer of the night to cut the USM lead to one, 60-59, with 16 seconds
remaining.
The Bobcats had a chance for the win after a USM turnover, but a steal by
Daniels returned the ball to USM in the final seconds setting up Whitaker for
the final two free throws.
Southern Maine hosts Bowdoin College on November 27 (8:00 p.m.) in its next
contest. Bates travels to Endicott College on November 27 (7:30 p.m.).
################################################################################
Saturday, November 17, 2007
Southern Maine Routs UMaine Presque Isle 113-48
FARMINGTON, Maine -- Senior forward Drew Coppenrath (Barnet, Vt./St.
Johnsbury Academy) of led five players in double-figures with 20 points as the
University of Southern Maine Huskies defeated the University of Maine Presque
Isle Owls, 113-48, in the consolation game of the 2007 University of Maine
Farmington Men's Basketball Tip-Off Tournament Saturday afternoon at Dearborn
Gymnasium in Farmington, Maine.
With the win, Southern Maine evens its record at 1-1. The Owls remain
winless after two games.
The game marked the first time since 2004 when they defeated the Owls
112-55 at the same tournament that the Huskies have eclipsed the century mark..
Southern Maine's 113 points is their highest point total since defeating Thomas
College by the score of 124-78 on January 24, 2002.
Coppenrath was 5-for-8 from the field and 9-for-12 from the free throw line
en route to his game high 20. He scored 13 of his 20 in the first half as USM
jumped out to a commanding 57-23 lead at the break. Coppenrath was named to the
all-tournament team after averaging 18 points per game during the tournament.
Senior guard Josh Daniels (Everett, Wash./Maine Central Institute) and
sophomore guard Greg Whitaker (Presque Isle, Maine/Presque Isle) each added 11
points for the Huskies, while Daniels added a team-high eight rebounds to help
USM to a 43-26 advantage on the boards. Freshman guard Broderic Jones (Garland,
Texas/Ennis) and sophomore guard Alan Campbell (Grand Isle, Maine/Madawaska)
each added 10 points off of the bench.
UMPI sophomore forward Dwayne Mitchell (Dickinson, North Dakota) led all
scorers with 23 points, but was the only UMPI player to crest double-digits.
Mitchell was an outstanding 11-for-16 from the field. Junior forward Matt
Campbell (Houlton, Maine) added nine points for the Owls.
Southern Maine finished the game shooting a blistering 59.1 percent (39-
for-66) from the floor and were equally as impressive from three-point territory
knocking down 9-of-22 from beyond the arc for a 40.9 percent mark. UMPI
struggled from the field making 38.9 percent (21-for-54) of its shots and was
hampered by 26 turnovers.
Southern Maine returns to action on Tuesday (7:30 p.m.) in its home-opener
against Bates College. UMPI travels to North Carolina to competed in the North
Carolina Wesleyan Tournament on November 30.
################################################################################
Friday, November 16, 2007
Trinity Defeats Southern Maine 67-58 in Season-Opener
FARMINGTON, Maine -- Senior guard Patrick Hasiuk (Enfield, Conn.) led
three players in double figures with 16 points and added four rebounds and five
assists to help the Trinity College Bantams to a 67-58, season-opening victory
over the University of Southern Maine Huskies in the opening game of the 2007
University of Maine Farmington Men's Basketball Tip-Off Tournament Friday night
at Dearborn Gymnasium in Farmington, Maine.
The Bantams, starting their 2007-2008 season at 1-0, will face the
University of Maine Farmington in the championship game of the tournament
Saturday (3:00 p.m.) UMF punched its ticket to the championship game with a
91-35 rout of in-state rival, the University of Maine Presque Isle.
Southern Maine begins its campaign at 0-1 and will play UMPI (1:00 p.m.) in
the consolation game.
Hasiuk was 4-for-9 from the field and scored 11 of his 16 points in the
first half to spark Trinity to a 35-24 halftime lead. Senior forward Robert
Taylor (Boston, Mass./Newton North) netted 14 points and grabbed a team-high
seven rebounds and senior center Russ Martin (East Longmeadow, Mass./East
Longmeadow) chipped in with 12 points and six rebounds. Taylor, a 6-5 forward,
and Martin, a 6-7 center, combined to shoot an outstanding 11-for-19 from the
field.
Southern Maine senior forward Drew Coppenrath (Barnet, Vt./St. Johnsbury
Academy) matched Hasiuk for game-high scoring honors with 16 points and grabbed
a game-high eight rebounds to pace the Huskies. Coppenrath was 6-for-11 from
the field and 3-for-4 from the three-point line in 40 minutes of action.
Freshman guard Phil Broomfield (Hackensack, N.J./Hackensack) added 13 points,
while senior guard Josh Daniels (Everett, Wash./Maine Central Institute) tossed
in 12 points.
Trinity shot 48.1 percent (26-for-54) from the field in the win. The
Huskies struggled from the field knocking down 37.8 percent (17-for-45) of their
shots.
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November 14, 2007
(Courtesy of the Little East Conference)
RIC Anchormen Sit Atop Preseason Coaches' Poll
Southern Maine Picked for Sixth
PROVIDENCE, R.I. -- The Rhode Island College men's basketball team has
been predicted to repeat as Little East Conference champions following a vote by
the conference's eight head coaches. The Anchormen, who have been the preseason
favorites the past three campaigns, earned five first-place votes and a second-
place tally for 46 total points. Each head coach cast a vote, but could not rank
their team.
Under the direction of Head Coach Bob Walsh, Rhode Island College has
captured the Little East Conference regular season championships two of the past
three seasons, while earning the program's first Little East Conference
Tournament Championship in 2007. The Anchormen earned the automatic berth into
the NCAA Tournament for the first time in the program's history, where they
advanced to the NCAA Sectional Championship game. Last season, Walsh led his
charges to a school-record 27-4 mark, including a program-best 12-2 record in
the conference circuit. Rhode Island College returns two of its three top
scorers from the 2007 squad, led by NCAA All-Sectional Tournament Team selection
junior guard Bobby Bailey (Fall River, Mass.).
Keene State College, the 2007 Little East Conference Tournament finalist,
enters the season second in the conference standings-a mere two points off the
Anchormen's pace. In 2007, Head Coach Rob Colbert led the Owls to their second
appearance in the NCAA Tournament in the past four years, advancing to the NCAA
Sectional Semifinals. Keene State College posted a 25-6 overall record, matching
the program's mark for single-season victories. Colbert welcomes back five
letterman from last season, including preseason All-American junior forward
Tyler Kathan (Ludlow, Vt.).
Western Connecticut State University (33) edged UMass Dartmouth (31) and
Eastern Connecticut State University (28) for the No. 3 position. The Colonials
and Corsairs shared third place last season with 8-6 conference marks, while the
Warriors were 7-7. UMass Dartmouth penned the remaining first-place vote in its
ledger.
The University of Southern Maine (17), University of Massachusetts Boston
(15), and Plymouth State University (10) round out the preseason coaches'
rankings.
The Little East Conference opens the 2007-08 slate on Friday, Nov. 16, when
six of the eight conference institutions are in action.
Little East Conference
2007-08 Men's Basketball Preseason Coaches' Poll
Rk. Institution (1st Place Votes) Points
1. Rhode Island College (5) 46 pts
2. Keene State College (2) 44 pts
3. Western Connecticut State University 33 pts
4. University of Massachusetts Dartmouth (1) 31 pts
5. Eastern Connecticut State University 28 pts
6. University of Southern Maine 17 pts
7. University of Massachusetts Boston 15 pts
8. Plymouth State University 10 pts
################################################################################
Monday, November 5, 2007
Daniels, Coppenrath and Hebert Named USM Men's Basketball Captains
GORHAM, Maine -- Senior guard Josh Daniels (Everett, Wash./Maine Central
Institute) and senior forwards Drew Coppenrath (Barnet, Vt./St. Johnsbury) and
Ian Hebert (New Gloucester, Maine/Gray-New Gloucester) have been named tri-
captains of the 2007-2008 University of Southern Maine Huskies men's basketball
team. Fifth-year head coach Karl Henrikson made the announcement as Southern
Maine prepares for its season-opening game on November 16 (6:00 p.m.) against
Trinity College at the University of Maine Farmington Tip-Off Classic.
Daniels, a second team All-LEC honoree last season, is the team's top
returning scorer. The 6-foot-2 guard averaged 13.6 points and 4.1 rebounds per
game as a junior. Daniels also led the team in assists, passing off 3.0
assists per game.
"A four-year starter and second-year captain, Josh will provide versatility
in our attack," noted Henrikson. "Josh is a tough match-up for opponents. He
is very strong around the basket and is one of the top three-pointer shooters in
the conference. In the preseason workouts, Josh has been focused and is looking
forward to a healthy, 2007-2008 season and a strong finish to his fine career at
USM."
Southern Maine's top rebounder and second-leading scorer, Coppenrath
averaged 12.6 points and 7.6 rebounds as a junior. The 6-6 forward recorded
five "double-doubles" last season and posted career highs in points (23) and
rebounds (15).
"Drew emerged last season into one of the top post players in the Little
East, nearly averaging a double-double," said Henrikson. "His on-court
intelligence creates positive situations for both his teammates and himself. I
expect Drew to have a banner year and to continue the steady progress he has
made during his career."
Hebert, another 6-6 forward, returns to the Huskies frontcourt after a
year's absence. In 2005-2006, Hebert averaged 15 minutes per game while playing
in all 26 of USM's games. He scored 4.2 points and grabbed 3.0 rebounds per
game while shooting 45.1 percent (37-for-82) from the field.
"Ian's return has provided us with instant leadership," noted Henrikson.
"His tireless work ethic and dedication makes him an asset to the team. He is a
relentless rebounder and defender and his intensity on the court is infectious."
After its season-opener against Trinity, Southern Maine concludes the UMF
Tip-Off Classic against either host UMaine Farmington or the University of Maine
Presque Isle on November 17 (1:00/3:00 p.m.).
The Huskies open their home schedule hosting Bates College on November 20
(7:30 p.m.) and Bowdoin College on November 27 (8:00 p.m.) to close out the
month of November.
In December, the Huskies face nationally-ranked Keene State College on the
road on December 1 (3:00 p.m.) in their first Little East Conference game of the
season. USM hosts Colby College on December 5 (7:30 p.m.) and the University of
Massachusetts Dartmouth on December 8 (3:00 p.m.) before visiting the University
of New England on December 11 (7:30 p.m.) and UMaine Farmington on December 14
(8:00 p.m.).
Southern Maine's final two contests in December are in Irvine, California,
where it will compete in the Surf City Classic. USM faces Occidental on
December 28 (6:00 p.m.) and Concordia on December 29 (tba) as part of the two-
day event.
USM is on the road for its first two contest in 2008, traveling to Husson
College on January 8 (7:30 p.m.) and Eastern Connecticut State University on
January 12 (3:00 p.m.). The Huskies return home to face Rhode Island College on
January 15 (7:30 p.m.) and Western Connecticut State University on January 19
(3:00 p.m.).
Three of the Huskies final four contests in January are on the road. They
will travel to the University of Massachusetts Boston on January 22 (7:30 p.m.),
St. Joseph's College on January 24 (7:00 p.m.) and Plymouth State University on
January 29 (7:30 p.m.). They will also host a home game with Keene State on
January 26 (3:00 p.m.).
The Huskies begin February on the road at UMass Dartmouth on February 2
(3:00 p.m.) before hosting Eastern Connecticut on February 9 (3:00 p.m.) and
UMass Boston on February 12 (7:30 p.m.).
USM travels to Rhode Island College on February 16 (3:00 p.m.) and hosts
Plymouth State on February 19 (7:30 p.m.) be |
