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Season Complete
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Tuesday, February 24, 2009
(Courtesy of RIC Sports Information)
13th Ranked Rhode Island College Downs Southern Maine 73-57
PROVIDENCE, Rhode Island - Freshman forward Mason Choice (Newport, RI)
scored 13 of his team-high 17 points in the first half to lead top-seeded Rhode
Island College past eighth-seeded Southern Maine, 73-57, in quarterfinal action
of the 2009 Little East Conference Men’s Basketball Tournament.
The Anchormen (22-4) win for the 13th straight time, equaling the 1971
squad’s effort for the most consecutive victories in program history. RIC,
ranked No. 17 in the nation, earns the right to host the semifinals and finals
of the conference tourney for just the second time in school history and for the
second time in three years.
RIC will face fourth-seeded Keene State on Friday, February, 27 at The
Murray Center. Tip-off is scheduled for 6 p.m. Sixth-seeded Western Connecticut
will battle second-seeded UMass Dartmouth in the other semifinal game beginning
at approximately 8 p.m.
“Our halfcourt defense in the first half really took their will away,” RIC
Head Coach Bob Walsh said afterwards. “Now we are excited to host the
conference’s final four for the second time in school history. We’ll need to be
focused for 40 minutes to have a chance to win.”
Rhode Island College led wire-to-wire in the contest, opening the game on a
9-0 run. The Anchormen scored the first six points of the game from the charity
stripe and kept USM (5-21) off the scoreboard for the first 6:10.
The hosts built an 11-point lead, 18-7, on a layup by senior center Wil
Lyons (Warwick, RI) at 10:12. Southern Maine freshman forward Sean Bergeron
(Kennebunk, ME) trimmed the lead back to nine, 18-9, at 9:27.
RIC countered with a 19-6 run to take a 37-15, 22-point lead into halftime.
The Anchormen kept up a 20-point advantage for most of the second stanza,
building a 23-point lead, 61-38, with 6:06 remaining.
The Huskies came back with an 11-0 run, to trail, 61-49, with 2:45 left on
a Bergeron three-pointer. USM cut the deficit to 10 points, 63-53, at 1:15.
However, Rhode Island College made eight free throws down the stretch to seal
the victory.
The Anchormen shot 42 percent (22-for-52) from the field and went to the
free throw line 27 more times (27-for-36) than the Huskies. USM shot 38 percent
(24-for-64) from the field. Both team struggled from downtown, with RIC shooting
17 percent (2-for-12) and the Huskies logging a 20 percent effort (4-for-20).
Choice added five boards and was perfect from the field (5-for-5).
Sophomore guard Antone Gray (Providence, RI) chipped in with 12 points. Senior
guard Bobby Bailey (Fall River, MA) registered 11 points, six rebounds, three
assists, two blocks and two steals. Senior forward Kaseem Johnson (New Haven,
CT) had seven points and a game-high nine rebounds.
Bergeron led all scorers with 21 points, shooting 8-for-12 from the
field.
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Saturday, February 21, 2009
Southern Maine Beats Western Connecticut 88-72
GORHAM, Maine - Sophomore guard John Sewall (Woolwich, Maine/Cheverus)
scored 21 points to lead four players in double-figures as the University of
Southern Maine Huskies downed the Western Connecticut State University Colonials
88-72 Tuesday afternoon in Little East Conference men’s basketball action at
Hill Gymnasium in Gorham, Maine.
Earning its second conference win of the season, USM improves to 5-20
overall and 2-12 in the LEC. The Colonials fall to 13-11 and 6-8 in the
conference. USM, the eighth seed, will travel to top-seeded Rhode Island
College for its first round game in the Little East Conference tournament on
Tuesday . Western Connecticut will be the sixth seed in the tournament and
travel to third-seeded Plymouth State on Tuesday.
Sewall was an outstanding 7-for-9 from the field for the game, including a
pair of deep three-pointers in the first half as the Huskies jumped out to a
dominating 50-27 halftime lead. Junior forward Andy Tracy (Ellsworth,
Maine/Maine Central Institute) added 18 points, a game-high eight rebounds and
four assists. Junior guard Greg Whitaker (Presque Isle, Maine) added 13 points,
while sophomore guard Otis Smith (Altamonte, Fla./Ocoee) chipped with 10 points
and five rebounds.
Senior forward Marcus Mann (Windsor, Conn./The Master’s School) led the
Colonials with 16 points and junior guard Tyshawn Gillespie (Bridgeport,
Conn./Bassick) added 11. Freshman guard Daquon Brooks (Bristol, Conn./Bristol
Central) and senior guard Dewayne Dickens (Danbury, Conn./Henry Abbott Tech)
each chipped in with eight points.
The Huskies shot a blazing 59.4 percent (19-for-32) from the field and
80.0 percent (4-for-5) from three-point range in the first half. Sewall scored
13 of his 21 points in the opening stanza, while Smith and freshman forward Sean
Bergeron (Kennebunk, Maine) each scored seven points. USM outscored the
Colonials 15-3 in the first five minutes of the game, as the Huskies were on
fire from the field making 6-of-8, including threes from Smith and Bergeron.
Conversely, the Colonials were 1-for-7 from the floor with four turnovers.
Western Connecticut finished the half shooting 36.0 percent (9-for-25) with nine
turnovers.
In the second half, Western Connecticut was able to erase a 23-point
deficit and battle its way to within four of USM outscoring the Huskies 26-7 in
the opening 11 minutes of the half. The Colonials held the Huskies to just 3-
for-8 from the field to start the second half and forced USM to make 10
turnovers. Mann, Gillespie and senior guard Dashon Jennings (Bridgeport,
Conn./Bassick) each scored six points in the run.
However, the Huskies were able to regroup, after Brooks’ steal and a lay-
up had the Colonials within two possessions of the USM 57-53 with 9:16 to play.
Tracy halted the Colonial charge scoring a lay-up and converting a free throw
for a traditional three-point play to kickstart a 11-0 run. Tracy and Sewall
followed with a pair of lay-ups and the Huskies converted four straight free
throws to regain a comfortable, 68-53, lead with 7:42 to play.
Western Connecticut freshman forward Gary Robinson (Torrington,
Conn./Hotchkiss) stopped the USM run with a lay-up and a free throw to pull the
Colonials to within 68-56 of USM with 7:25 to play, but the Colonials were
unable to get any closer than 12 points the rest of the way as USM sealed the
game from the free throw line, scoring 15 of its final 20 points from the
charity stripe.
USM finished the game shooting 56.0 percent (28-for-50) from the field and
77.8 percent (28-for-36) from the free throw line. The Colonials shot 43.1
percent (28-for-65) from the field.
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Tuesday, February 17, 2009
Plymouth State Pummels Southern Maine 71-47
PLYMOUTH, N.H. - Senior guard Ben Huntington (Hampstead, N.H./Pinkerton
Academy) scored a game-high 27 points, knocking down five three-pointers, to
lead the Plymouth State University Panthers to a 71-47 win over the University
of Southern Maine Huskies in Little East Conference men’s basketball action
Tuesday night at Foley Gymnasium in Plymouth, N.H.
Earning its third straight win, Plymouth State evens out its overall record
to 12-12 and improves to 8-5 in the Little East. USM, dropping its eighth
straight contest, falls to 4-20 overall and 1-12 in the conference.
Huntington was nearly perfect from the field shooting 8-for-12 from the
floor and 5-for-7 from three-point range to lead the Panthers. Junior forward
Bryan Tracy (Manchester, N.H./Central) was the only other Panther player in
double-figures scoring netting 11 points. Four players added six points for PSU
including junior forward Mike Chergey (Bow, N.H.), junior guards Eric Hondal
(Miami, Fla./Piper) and Jason O’Keefe (Everett, Mass./Everett) and sophomore
guard Ryan Lambert (Derry, N.H./Pinkerton Academy).
Freshman forward Sean Bergeron (Kennebunk, Maine) led Southern Maine with
11 points and seven rebounds. Junior guard Greg Whitaker (Presque Isle, Maine)
and sophomore guard Otis Smith (Altamonte, Fla./Ocoee) each scored 10 points for
the Huskies. Smith matched Bergeron for team-high rebounding honors with seven.
Plymouth State jumped out to a 33-20 halftime lead as the Huskies struggled
offensively shooting 21.9 percent (7-for-32) from the field in the opening
stanza. Huntington scored 12 of his 27 points in the first half, as the
Panthers shot a solid 48.0 percent (12-for-25) from the field and 44.4 percent
(4-for-9) from three-point range.
The Huskies shooting woes continued in the second half as Plymouth State
limited USM to just 34.5 percent (10-for-29) from the floor. Huntington again
paced the Panthers netting 15 points in the second half, while Tracy scored
eight of his 11.
Southern Maine finished the game shooting 27.9 percent (17-for-61) from the
field. The Panthers shot 48.9 percent (23-for-47) and 52.6 percent (10-for-19)
from three-point range.
USM returns to action at home on Saturday (3:00 p.m.) against Western
Connecticut. Plymouth State hosts UMass Dartmouth on the same date and time.
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Saturday, February 14, 2009
Nationally-Ranked Rhode Island College Defeats Huskies 86-72
GORHAM, Maine - Freshman forward Mason Choice (Newport, Rhode
Island/Rogers) was nearly perfect from the field and scored 16 points to lead
five players in double-figures as the nationally-ranked Rhode Island College
Anchormen defeated the University of Southern Maine Huskies 86-72 in Little East
Conference men’s basketball action Saturday afternoon at Hill Gymnasium in
Gorham, Maine.
Earning its 10th straight win, Rhode Island College, the defending LEC
champions, improves to 18-4 overall and 11-1 in the Little East. Southern
Maine, winless in its last seven contests, falls to 4-19 overall and 1-11 in the
conference.
Choice was 7-for-8 off of the bench for the Anchormen with three assists
and four rebounds to lead a balanced attack. Senior center Wil Lyons (Warwick,
Rhode Island/Pilgrim), senior guard Bobby Bailey (Fall River, Mass./Durfee) and
sophomore guard Antone Gray (Providence, Rhode Island) each scored 14 points,
while senior guard Cameron Stewart (Newport, Rhode Island/Rogers) tossed in 10
points.
Sophomore guard Otis Smith (Altamonte, Fla./Ocoee) scored a game-high 20
points on an 8-for-11 effort from the field to lead USM. Sophomore guard John
Sewall (Woolwich, Maine/Cheverus) added 12 points off of the bench and freshman
forward Sean Bergeron (Kennebunk, Maine) tossed in 11 points. Junior guard Greg
Whitaker (Presque Isle, Maine) had seven points and a team-high seven rebounds.
Tied at 23 with 7:52 to play in the first half, Rhode Island College broke
away from the Huskies with a 11-0 run. The Anchormen received scoring from four
different players in the decisive run led by five points from Lyons. A three-
pointer from Southern Maine sophomore guard Troy Jellison (Bangor, Maine) slowed
the RIC onslaught, but was quickly followed by 14-3 streak by the Anchormen for
a 19-point, 48-29 advantage with 52 seconds to play. USM junior forward Andy
Tracy (Ellsworth, Maine/Maine Central Institute) scored a lay-up on the Huskies’
final possession of the half for a 48-31 RIC lead at the break.
In the second half RIC continued to click offensively and led by 20, 65-45,
with 13:35 to play following a traditional three-point play from Choice on a
lay-up and a free throw. However, USM was able to narrow the gap to nine
points, 74-65, over the next seven minutes and 21 seconds outscoring the
Anchormen 20-10. Bergeron and Sewall combined to score 14 of the Huskies 20
points during the stretch. A layup from Stewart with 5:38 to play regained a
double-digit lead for RIC and halted the Huskies comeback bid as USM was unable
to get any closer than nine points.
Rhode Island College shot an outstanding 63.0 percent (34-for-54) from the
field and 37.5 percent (6-for-16) from three-point range. Southern Maine shot
44.3 percent (27-for-61) from the floor.
Southern Maine returns to action on the road at Plymouth State University
on Tuesday (7:30 p.m.). Rhode Island College travels to Western Connecticut on
the same date and time.
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Friday, February 13, 2009
LittleEast.tv to Broadcast USM Basketball Doubleheader on Saturday
GORHAM, Maine - The Little East Conference and EZStream.com will partner
to video broadcast the University of Southern Maine Huskies basketball men’s and
women’s basketball double header against the Rhode Island College Anchormen on
Saturday, February 14, 2009 live from Hill Gymnasium in Gorham, Maine. The
LittleEast.tv crew is touring to its fourth state in the New England Region in
the past two weeks.
The Anchorwomen (10-12, 5-6 LEC) and the Huskies (17-5, 7-4 LEC) will
square off in at 1:00 p.m. Providing the play-by-play call and color commentary
beginning at 12:50 p.m. for the women’s game will be Jim Ward and former USM
Women’s Basketball Coach Gary Fifield. The Husky men (4-18, 1-10 LEC) will face
the nationally-ranked Anchormen (18-4, 10-1 LEC) at 3:00 p.m. Fifield will
remain on the broadcast for the men’s game and will by joined by John Paradise.
The broadcast can be accessed at www.littleeast.tv beginning at 12:50 p.m.
on Saturday. The broadcast is free of charge.
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Tuesday, February 10, 2009
UMass Boston Edges Southern Maine 77-70
BOSTON - Junior forward Pat Joseph (Bronx, N.Y./North Cambridge Catholic)
scored a game-high 24 points and grabbed 10 rebounds to lead four players in
double-figures as the UMass Boston Beacons edged the University of Southern
Maine Huskies 77-70 in Little East Conference men’s basketball action Tuesday
night at the Clark Athletic Center in Boston.
Earning their third straight win, the Beacons avenge and earlier loss to
the Huskies and improves their record 4-18 overall and 2-9 in the Little East.
Southern Maine drops to 4-18 overall and 1-10 in the conference.
Joseph shot an outstanding 9-for-11 from the field and a perfect 6-for-6
from the free throw line to help the Beacons to a 50.0 shooting percentage (28-
for-56) for the game. Junior forward Ernst Jean (Malden, Mass.) scored 18
points on a 8-for-14 effort from the field and senior guard A.J. Titus (Roxbury,
Mass./Canterbury School) added 17 points and a game-high eight assists.
Freshman guard Chris Milton (Milton, Mass.) scored 14 points off of the bench,
knocking down a trio of three-pointers.
Freshman forward Sean Bergeron (Kennebunk, Maine) led the Huskies with 17
points and six rebounds. Junior forward Andy Tracy (Ellsworth, Maine/Maine
Central Institute) netted 16 points on 7-for-13 mark from the field, while
sophomore guard Otis Smith (Altamonte, Fla./Ocoee) chipped in with 11 points off
of the bench.
Trailing the Huskies 41-36 early in the second half, the Beacons poured on
the points outscoring Southern Maine 20-4 during a seven minute stretch to take
a 56-45 with 10:59 to play. Joseph was instrumental in the run for the Beacons
netting 10 points. Southern Maine fought its way back with a 16-8 run keyed by
eight points from Tracy, including the first six points in the run, to trail the
Beacons by a basket 63-61 with 5:03 remaining.
Both teams battled back and forth and a free throw from USM’s Smith pulled
the Huskies to within one, 68-67 with 1:46 on the clock, before the Beacons’
Milton sank a dagger of a three-pointer with 1:28 to play for a quick four-
point, 71-67 lead. Forced to foul, USM sent the Beacons to the free throw line
where they calmly sank 6-of-6 from the line for the win.
The Beacons shot 56.5 percent (13-for-23) from the field and 88.9 percent
(16-for-18) from the free throw line in the second half. Southern Maine
finished the game shooting 54.9 percent (28-for-51) from the field, but was at a
significant disadvantage from the charity stripe. Despite shooting a solid 76.9
percent (10-for-13) from the line, the Huskies trailed the Beacons in attempts
13-21.
Southern Maine returns to action on Saturday (3:00 p.m.) at home against
LEC foe Rhode Island College. UMass Boston hosts Plymouth State on Saturday
(3:00 p.m.).
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Saturday, February 7, 2009
First Half Propels Eastern Connecticut Past Southern Maine 65-50
WILLIMANTIC, Conn. – Junior guard Edwin Ortiz (Hartford, Conn./East
Catholic) scored 16 points to lead three-player in double-figures as the Eastern
Connecticut State University Warriors used a strong first-half to defeat the
University of Southern Maine Huskies 65-50 in Little East Conference men’s
basketball action Saturday afternoon at Geissler Gym in Willimantic, Conn.
The win improves the Warriors record to 10-11 overall and 4-6 in the
conference. Dropping its fifth straight game, Southern Maine falls to 4-17
overall and 1-9 in the conference.
Ortiz was 4-for-10 from the field, including 3-for-7 from three-point range
to lead the Warriors. Sophomore guard Courtney Simmons (Middletown,
Conn./Xavier) added 10 points, five rebounds, three assists and two steals,
while freshman guard Nick Nedwick (Irvington, N.Y.) tossed in 10 points and five
rebounds.
Junior guard Greg Whitaker (Presque Isle, Maine) led the Huskies with 16
points on a solid 7-for-10 effort from the field. Junior forward Andy Tracy
(Ellsworth, Maine/Maine Central Institute) added 12 points and seven rebounds
and freshman guard Mike Poulin (Readfield, Maine/Maranacook) chipped in with 11
points.
In a low-scoring first half, the Warriors gained the edge holding the
Huskies to just five first-half field goals and a 19.2 shooting percentage (5-
for-26) to jump out to a 25-12 lead at the break. Eastern Connecticut, shooting
just 34.6 percent (9-for-26) from the field in the opening half, held USM
scoreless over the final 4:22 of the first half.
Southern Maine pulled itself to within two possessions of the Warriors
midway through the second half to trail by six, 41-35, with 8:44 to play.
Trailing the Warriors 40-29 with 9:55 on the clock, Tracy sandwiched back-to-
back three-pointers around a single Eastern Connecticut free throw to bring his
team back into the game. Eastern Connecticut countered however with a 10-2 run
to quickly regain a double-digit advantage, 51-37, with 6:54 remaining. Ortiz
scored eight of his 16 points in the pivotal run for the Warriors including a
pair of three-pointers. Southern Maine was unable to get any closer than 12
points the rest of the way as the Warriors took the win.
Southern Maine finished the game shooting 33.9 percent (19-for-56) from the
field. The Warriors shot 41.8 percent (23-for-55) from the field and 35.7
percent (5-for-14) from three-point range. The Warriors also held a decisive
46-32 edge in rebounding.
Southern Maine returns to action on Tuesday (7:30 p.m.) at UMass Boston.
Eastern Connecticut travels to Western Connecticut on Tuesday (7:30 p.m.).
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Tuesday, February 3, 2009
Colby College Runs Past Southern Maine 81-57
WATERVILLE, Maine – Sophomore forward Michael Russell (Wellesley, Mass.)
scored a team-high 16 points to lead three players in double figures as the
Colby College Mules defeated the University of Southern Maine Huskies 81-57 in a
non-conference men’s basketball game Tuesday night at Wadsworth Gymnasium in
Waterville, Maine.
Earning its sixth win in its last seven games, Colby College improves to
14-5 overall. Southern Maine falls to 4-16 with the loss.
Russell was 5-for-8 from the field and 6-for-7 from the free throw line to
pace the Mules offensively and chipped in with a seven rebounds. Junior forward
Adam Choice (Newport, R.I./St. Georges School) added 15 points, while junior
guard Gil Haylon (Wellesley, Mass./Noble & Greenough) tossed in 14 points
sinking 4-of-5 fro three-point range.
USM sophomore guard John Sewall (Woolwich, Maine/Cheverus) led all scorers with
23 points off of the bench. Sewall finished the game shooting 7-for-13 from the
field, including a trio of three-pointers. Sophomore guard Otis Smith
(Altamonte, Fla./Ocoee) was the only other Husky in double-figures with 12
points on a 5-for-9 shooting performance.
Colby shot an outstanding 51.9 percent (14-for-27) in the first half
including a 5-for-12 mark from three-point range to jump out to a 40-22 lead at
the break. Russell scored 13 of his 16 points in the opening stanz, while
Haylon scored nine. The Mules limited the Huskies to just nine first-half field
goals and a 31.0 percent (9-for-29) shooting effort.
In the second half, Colby continued to control the pace of play and led by
as many as 35 points, 73-38, with 6:35 to play following a three-pointer from
Haylon.
Southern Maine finished the game shooting 33.9 percent (20-for-59) from the
field. The Mules shot 50.8 percent (30-for-59) from the field and 36.8 percent
(7-for-19) from three-point range.
Southern Maine returns to Little East Conference action on Saturday (3:00
p.m.) at Eastern Connecticut State University. Colby College travels to
Williams College on Friday (7:30 p.m.).
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Saturday, January 31, 2009
UMass Dartmouth Overpowers Southern Maine 81-56
GORHAM, Maine – Junior forward Brandon Shelton (Cambridge, Mass./Cambridge
Rindge & Latin) scored a team-high 17 points to lead four players in double
figures as the nationally-ranked UMass Dartmouth Corsairs downed the University
of Southern Maine Huskies 81-56 in a Little East Conference men’s basketball
game Saturday at Hill Gymnasium in Gorham, Maine.
Earning their fourth win in a row, the Corsairs improve to 16-2 overall
and 8-1 in the Little East. The loss drops Southern Maine to 4-15 overall and
1-8 in the conference.
Shelton was 8-for-16 from the field and grabbed a team-high eight
rebounds. Junior forward Matt Walker (Brockton, Mass.) added 16 points and
seven rebounds on a 7-for-12 mark from the field. Sophomore forward Brandon
Stephens (Dorchester, Mass./Newton North) tossed in 14 points and seven points,
while junior guard Jeff Macchi (Franklin, Mass.) chipped in with 10 points, four
assists and three steals.
Junior forward Andy Tracy (Ellsworth, Maine/Maine Central Institute) led
all scorers with 22 points and a team-high seven rebounds. Tracy was 4-for-6
from three-point range and 8-for-9 from the free throw line. Freshman forward
Sean Bergeron (Kennebunk, Maine), junior guard Greg Whitaker (Presque Isle,
Maine) and sophomore guard John Sewall (Woolwich, Maine) each scored eight
points.
The Corsairs raced out to 35-19 halftime lead led by nine points from
Shelton and eight points from junior guard V.J. Divine (Brookline, Mass.).
Forcing the Huskies into 11 turnovers, the Corsairs limited Southern Maine to
eight first half field goals (8-for-26) and a sub-par 30.8 percent effort from
the field.
In the second half, UMass Dartmouth outscored Southern Maine 10-4 in the
first two and a half minutes to open 45-23 lead. Stephens scored the Corsairs
first six points of the half, while Shelton netted four.
The Huskies were able to whittle the UMass Dartmouth lead down to 11
midway through the half. Trailing by 19, 51-32, with 15:12 to play the Huskies
outscored the Corsairs 14-6 over the next five minutes to trail 57-46 with 9:32
on the clock. Tracy scored 11 of his 21 points in the run.
The Corsairs were able to fight off the Huskies, however, and quickly
regained a 20-point advantage stringing together a 13-4 run to lead 70-50 with
5:10. Walker scored eight points in the run while senior guard Reece Freeman
(Cambridge, Mass./Cambridge Rindge & Latin) scored seven on his nine points.
UMass Dartmouth finished the game shooting 50.0 percent (34-for-68) from
the field. Southern Maine shot 36.7 percent (18-for-49) from the floor.
Southern Maine returns to action on Tuesday at Colby College (7:00 p.m.).
UMass Dartmouth is at home against Tufts University on Wednesday (7:00 p.m.).
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Tuesday, January 27, 2009
Late Surge Propels Plymouth Past Southern Maine 64-56
GORHAM, Maine – Junior guard Jason O’Keefe (Everett, Mass.) scored 16
points to lead three players in double-figures as the Plymouth State University
Panthers broke open a closely contest game late in the second half to defeat the
University of Southern Maine Huskies 64-56 in Little East Conference action
Tuesday night at Hill Gymnasium in Gorham, Maine.
With the win Plymouth State improves to 8-10 overall and 5-3 in the Little
East. The Huskies fall to 4-14 with the loss and 1-7 in conference.
O’Keefe was 4-for-14 from the field, but knocked down a trio of three
pointers to lead the Panthers. Senior guard Ben Huntington (Hampstead,
N.H./Pinkerton Academy) added 14 points and four assists and sophomore forward
Tom Dowd (Portsmouth, N.H.) chipped in with 10 points and a team-high eight
rebounds.
Sophomore guard John Sewall (Woolwich, Maine/Cheverus) led all scorers with
a career-best 22 points for the Huskies. Sewall was an outstanding 10-for-20
from the field. Junior guard Greg Whitaker (Presque Isle, Maine) finished the
game with 13 points and a team-high nine rebounds. Sophomore guard Otis Smith
(Altamonte, Fla./Ocoee) added nine points.
In a game with 11 ties and 10 lead changes the Panthers gained the upper-
hand late in the second half with a game-winning surge. With score tied at 46
with 8:29 to play, PSU strung together a 7-0 run to take control 53-46 with 6:05
to play. Huntington scored five of the Panthers points in the run including a
surge-capping three. Southern Maine pulled to within two of the Panthers in its
next two possessions on a jumper from Whitaker and a three-pointer from Sewall,
but the Panthers responded with a three-point play from Huntington and two free
throws from Feehan to regain a seven-point, 58-51, lead with 2:52 to play.
USM again challenged the Panthers, pulling to within four on a three-
pointer from sophomore guard Luke Pollock (Eliot, Maine/Marshwood), but Plymouth
State’s Huntington responded with a three of his own for a 61-54 PSU edge with
1:32 remaining and held on for the win.
Southern Maine hosts LEC foe UMass Dartmouth in its next contest on
Saturday (3:00 p.m.). Plymouth State travels to Western Connecticut on Saturday
(3:00 p.m.).
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Saturday, January 24, 2009
Keene State Edges Out Southern Maine 75-66
Keene, N.H. – Senior forward Tyler Kathan (Ludlow, Vt./Springfield) scored 20
points, grabbed a game-high 18 rebounds and handed out five assists to lead the
Keene State College Owls to a hard-fought 75-66 win over the University of
Southern Maine Huskies in Little East Conference men’s basketball action
Saturday night at Spaulding Gymnasium in Keene, N.H.
The win improves Keene’s overall record to 9-8 overall and 5-2 in the
Little East. The Huskies drop to 4-13 with the loss and 1-6 in the conference.
Kathan was 6-for-16 from the field to lead four Owl players in double-
figure scoring. Senior forward Nate Anderson (Westminster, Mass./Oakmont
Regional) complimented Kathan’s double-double securing one of his own with 16
points and 14 rebounds, including seven offensive boards. Sophomore guard Nate
DiSessa (Westfield, Mass.) added 12 points and six assists and freshman forward
Cody Snow (Leyden, Mass./Pioneer Regional) chipped in with 10 points.
Southern Maine freshman forward Sean Bergeron (Kennebunk, Maine) led all
scorers with career-best 23 points and a team-high nine rebounds. Bergeron was
a stellar 8-for-14 from the field and a perfect 6-for-6 from the free throw
line. Sophomore forward Otis Smith (Altamonte, Fla./Ocoee) added 15 points on a
6-for-10 effort from the field, while sophomore guard John Sewall (Woolwich,
Maine/Cheverus) tossed in 10 points and handed out four assists.
Both teams battled back and forth in the first half with Bergeron tallying
13 of his 23 points for the Huskies and Anderson and Snow scoring 10 each for
the Owls. The Owls held a slim 42-38 lead at the break. USM shot 45.5 percent
(15-for-33) in the opening half and Keene State shot 42.4 percent (14-for-33),
but the Owls held a edge in free throws making 10 of 11 in the first half.
Southern Maine trailed Keene State by just three points, 47-44, in the
opening minutes of the second half following a pair of free throws from
Bergeron, before Keene State scored eight unanswered points to take a
controlling 55-44 lead with 14:54 to play. Kathan scored six of the Owls points
in the run as he scored 14 of his 20 points in the second half. After the 8-0
run by Keene, USM was unable to get to within more than seven points of the Owls
the rest of the way.
Southern Maine hosts Plymouth State University on Tuesday (7:30 p.m.) in a
Little East Conference game. Keene State hosts Eastern Connecticut on the same
date and time.
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Wednesday, January 21, 2009
USM Athletic Department to Celebrate the Huskies’ 1989 Men’s Basketball Final
Four Team
GORHAM, Maine – The University of Southern Maine Department of Athletics
will be hosting a halftime presentation and post-game reception to honor the
20th anniversary of the Huskies’ 1989 Men’s Basketball Final Four Team.
Former members of the team, friends and family are invited to join the USM
Department of Athletics to recognize the achievements of the 1988-1989 team
which finished third overall at the 1989 NCAA Division III National Championship
Tournament. The department will make a special halftime presentation during the
Huskies’ game against UMass Dartmouth on Saturday, January 31. The game is
slated to tip off at 3 p.m. with the halftime to begin at approximately 3:30
p.m. Following the game, a reception will be held at the Alumni Reception
Center in the Costello Sports Complex.
During the 1988-89 season, USM was led by first team NABC All-District and
1989 LEC Player of the Year honoree Jeff Bowers and first team all-LEC selection
and LEC tournament Most Valuable Player Tim Bonsant. Former head coach Bob
Brown, guided the 1989 Huskies’ to an impressive 24-7 overall record and an 8-2
mark in the Little East Conference capturing the Little East Conference’s
regular season and conference tournament championship.
In the tournament championship, the Huskies defeated Plymouth State 84-62
to claim the conference crown and then earned three hard-fought victories in the
opening rounds of the NCAA tournament to advance to the Final Four. In the NCAA
tournament, Southern Maine defeated North Adams State 88-80, Western Connecticut
90-88 and Franklin & Marshall 79-71.
Brown, who coached the Huskies for three seasons, compiled a 66-24 record
(.733 winning percentage) before leaving USM for a position at Boston
University. Brown is currently the head coach at Cheverus High School. Bowers
and Bonsant are still among the statistical career leaders in USM men’s
basketball history. Bowers finished his career ranked eighth in scoring average
(17.2 ppg) and 15th in career points (1,257). Bonsant, who earned NABC first
team honors and LEC Player of the Year honors in 1991, is fifth all-time in
points scored (1,616), 13th in scoring average (16.3 ppg) and seventh in
rebounds per game (8.7 rpg).
View Invitation
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Tuesday, January 20, 2009
Southern Maine Downs UMass Boston 75-68
GORHAM, Maine – Sophomore guard John Sewall (Woolwich, Maine/Cheverus)
scored a career-best 18 points to lead the University of Southern Maine Huskies
to a 75-68 win over the UMass Boston Beacons in Little East Conference men’s
basketball action Tuesday night at Hill Gymnasium in Gorham, Maine.
The win stops a five-game losing streak for Southern Maine improving its
record to 4-12 overall and 1-5 in the LEC. UMass Boston drops to 2-14 on the
season and remains winless in conference action at 0-6.
Sewall was 7-for-14 from the field to lead four USM players in double
digits. Sewall also had three assists for the Huskies. Freshman forward Sean
Bergeron (Kennebunk, Maine) scored 15 points, grabbed a team-high nine rebounds
and had six steals, while freshman guard Mike Poulin(Readfield,
Maine/Maranacook) added 11 points, six assists and three steals. Junior guard
Greg Whitaker (Presque Isle, Maine) added 10 points and five rebounds.
Junior forward Ernst Jean (Malden, Mass.) led all scorers with 22 points
and 12 rebounds on an 8-for-11 mark from the field. Senior guard A.J. Titus
(Roxbury, Mass./Canterbury School) tossed in 16 points and four assists.
After jumping ahead 30-21 at the break, Southern Maine had to fight off a
surging Beacon squad in the second half. The Beacons clawed their way back into
the game tying the score three times in the opening 10 minutes of the second
stanza and took the lead 43-41 on a jumper from freshman guard James St. Fleur
Jr. (Brockton, Mass./Another Course to College). USM quickly tied the score on
a jumper from Sewall and went ahead, 45-43, with 10:41 to play on a layup from
Poulin.
UMass Boston again knotted the score on a pair of free throws from St.
Fleur Jr. with 10:05 on the clock before USM took the lead, 47-45, for good on a
lay-up from junior forward Will Clemmer (Windham, Maine) with 9:39 to play.
From there USM held the Beacons at bay, outscoring UMass Boston 28-23 down the
stretch for the win.
USM shot 46.0 percent (29-for-63) from the field and was solid at the free
throw line shooting 71.4 percent (15-for-21). UMass Boston shot 44.4 percent
(24-for-54) from the field.
Southern Maine returns to action on Saturday (3:00 p.m.) at Keene State
College. UMass Boston is at Rhode Island College on Saturday (1:00 p.m.).
################################################################################
Saturday, January 17, 2009
Western Connecticut Edges USM 80-77
DANBURY, Conn. – Freshman guard Daquan Brooks (Bristol, Conn./Bristol
Central) scored a game-high 20 points to lead the Western Connecticut State
University Colonials to a 80-77 win over the University of Southern Maine
Huskies in a Little East Conference men’s basketball game Saturday afternoon at
Feldman Arena in Danbury, Conn.
With its fifth straight loss Southern Maine falls to 3-12 on the season and
0-5 in the Little East. Western Connecticut improves to 7-6 overall and 2-3 in
the conference.
Brooks was 7-for-14 from the field including a stellar 5-for-8 from three-
point range. Junior guard Tyshawn Gillespie (Hartford, Conn./Glastonbury) added
15 points on a 5-for-7 mark from the field. The Colonials received a well-
balanced offensive attack as seven players scored at least six points. Senior
guard Dashon Jennings (Bridgeport, Conn./Bassick) added nine points, while
freshman center Leroy Mayers (Bronx, N.Y./Cardinal Hayes) added eight points.
Freshman forward Sean Bergeron (Kennebunk, Maine) and junior guard Greg
Whitaker (Presque Isle, Maine) paced the Huskies scoring 18 points each.
Bergeron posted a double-double grabbing a game-high 12 rebounds. Junior forward
Andy Tracy (Ellsworth, Maine/Maine Central Institute) tossed in 12 points.
Western Connecticut rallied from a narrow 41-38 halftime deficit as the
Huskies shot a sparkling 65.4 percent (17-for-26) from the field in the opening
stanza. Tracy scored 10 of his 12 points in the first half for USM.
Southern Maine led by as many as six points midway through the second half,
63-57, with 9:33 remaining following a jumper from Bergeron, but the Colonials
were able to charge their way back into the game with a 7-0 run. Jennings
nailed a three to key the scoring spurt and was followed by lay-ups from
Gillespie and sophomore James Brogan (Terryville, Conn.) to pull ahead 64-63.
The lead exchanged hands seven times and the score was tied five times over
the next nine minutes of action as both teams battled back and forth. A jumper
from junior guard John Sewall (Bath, Maine/Cheverus) gave the Huskies their
final lead of the game, 74-73, with 1:48 to play as Western Connecticut took
control on a three-point play from freshman forward Gary Robinson (Torrington,
Conn./Hotchkiss). The Colonials sealed the win at the free throw line making 4-
of-4 down the stretch.
Southern Maine returns to action on Tuesday (7:30 p.m.) at home against
UMass Boston. Western Connecticut hosts Eastern Connecticut on the same date.
################################################################################
Tuesday, January 13, 2009
RIC Holds Off Southern Maine 56-52
PROVIDENCE, Rhode Island – Freshman forward Mason Choice (Newport, Rhode
Island) converted two key free throws in the closing seconds of regulation to
extend a narrow lead and deliver the Rhode Island College Anchormen a 56-52
Little East Conference men’s basketball win over the University of Southern
Maine Huskies Tuesday night at The Murray Center in Providence, Rhode Island.
Rhode College earned its fourth straight win to improve to 9-3 overall and
3-1 in Little East Conference action. Southern Maine falls to 3-11 overall and
remains winless in the LEC at 0-4 despite holding the Anchormen to their lowest
offensive numbers of the season.
Freshman guard Antone Gray (Providence, Rhode Island) led all scorers with
a game-high 15 points while senior guard Tirrell Hill (Bronx, N.Y.) tossed in 12
points for the Anchormen.
Junior guard Andy Tracy (Ellsworth, Maine/Maine Central Institute) paced
the Huskies with 15 points and junior forward Greg Whitaker (Presque Isle,
Maine) added 10 points. Freshman forward Sean Bergeron (Kennebunk, Maine) and
freshman guard Mike Poulin (Readfield, Maine/Maranacook) added nine and eight
points respectively.
The Huskies trailed the entire game and fell behind Rhode Island College by
as many as 17 points in the first half, but rallied to pull within a basket of
the Anchormen deep into regulation in the second half. Bergeron’s traditional
three-point play on a lay-up and a free throw with 1:22 to play pulled USM into
contention 54-52. However, RIC’s Choice was able to snag a defensive rebound on
the Huskies’ game-tying attempt with 10 seconds to play and converted a pair of
free throws to seal the win.
Southern Maine travels to LEC foe Western Connecticut State for its next
contest on Saturday (1:00 p.m.). Rhode Island College travels to Eastern
Connecticut State on the same date for a LEC match up.
################################################################################
Saturday, January 10, 2009
Eastern Connecticut Downs Southern Maine 89-74
GORHAM, Maine – Sophomore guard Courtney Simmons (Middletown,
Conn./Xavier) scored a team-high 21 points to lead five players in double-
figures as the Eastern Connecticut State University Warriors downed the
University of Southern Maine Huskies 89-74 in a Little East Conference men’s
basketball game Saturday afternoon at Hill Gymnasium in Gorham, Maine.
Simmons was an outstanding 7-for-12 from the field as the Warriors shot
61.3 percent (38-for-62) to improve to 7-5 overall and 2-1 in the LEC, snapping
a two-game losing streak. The loss dropped Southern Maine to 3-10 overall and
0-3 in the conference.
Simmons added five assists and six rebounds for the Warriors while
sophomore center Broderick Sawyer (Norwalk, Conn./Brien McMahon) scored 19
points on a 9-for-14 effort from the field. Freshman forward Jamie Kohn
(Columbia, Conn./Coventry) added 15 points and a team-high eight rebounds and
freshman guard Nick Nedwick (Irvington, N.Y.) and junior guard Edwin Ortiz
(Hartford, Conn./East Catholic) each chipped in with 10 points.
USM junior guard Greg Whitaker<strong> (Presque Isle, Maine) led all scorers with
23 points and six rebounds. Whitaker shot 9-for-12 from the field as the
Huskies connected on 52.1 percent (25-for-48) of its shots. Junior forward Andy
Tracy (Ellsworth, Maine/Maine Central Institute) added 18 points and six
rebounds and freshman forward Sean Bergeron (Kennebunk, Maine) tossed in 17
points and four rebounds. Freshman guard Mike Poulin (Readfield,
Maine/Maranacook) had a career-best eight assists for the Huskies.
Ahead by six points, 72-66, following a jumper from USM’s Tracy with 7:19
to play, Eastern Connecticut pulled away from the Huskies taking advantage of
two USM turnovers with layups from Kohn and Simmons to lead 76-66 with 6:02 to
on the clock.
With Eastern holding a comfortable 10-point cushion, both teams traded
baskets. Southern Maine pulled two within seven, 79-72, on a pair of free
throws from Tracy with 2:09 remaining, but the Warriors again responded with a
short jumper from Kohn and a steal and a lay-up from Ortiz to lead 83-72.
Eastern outscored USM 6-2 down the stretch for the 89-74 final.
Southern Maine travels to Rhode Island College on Tuesday (7:30 p.m.) for
its next contest. Eastern Connecticut hosts UMass Dartmouth on the same day.
################################################################################
Wednesday, January 7, 2009
Husson Slips Past USM 75-72
GORHAM, Maine – Junior guard Brock Bradford (Kenduskeag, Maine/Bangor
Christian) scored a game-high 20 points to lead the Husson University Eagles to
a narrow 75-72 win over the University of Southern Maine Huskies in a non-
conference men’s basketball game Wednesday night at Hill Gymnasium in Gorham,
Maine.
With the win Husson improves to 3-7 overall. Suffering their second
straight loss, the Huskies fall to 3-9 on the season.
Bradford was 6-for-14 from the field and 2-for-3 from three-point range to
lead three Husson players in double figures. Bradford added three assists and
two steals for the Eagles. Junior forward Matt McKenzie (Warren, Maine/Medomak
Valley) added 17 point, a team-high seven rebounds and four steals, while
sophomore guard Jay Uhrin (Winterport, Maine/Hampden Academy) tossed in 13
points off of the bench.
Sophomore forward Otis Smith (Altamonte, Fla./Ocoee) led the Huskies with
18 points and seven rebounds, finishing the game with a 7-for-18 mark from the
floor. Senior guard Greg Whitaker (Presque Isle, Maine) was 8-for-12 from the
field en route to 16 points and seven boards, while freshman guard Mike Poulin
(Readfield, Maine/Maranacook) added 11 points.
In a tightly contested game that featured 14 tied scores, Husson was able
to string together the final run to earn the victory. Trailing by two, 69-67,
after a layup from Whitaker after a nice dish-and-drive from Smith with 3:36 on
the clock, Husson outscored the Huskies 8-3 over the final minutes of action.
Husson freshman guard Daeshawn McMorrin (Naugatuck, Conn./Bridgton
Academy) scored all five of his points in the pivotal run and pulled the Eagles
even with USM with a layup following a steal from McKenzie with 2:06 to play.
Husson then scored five unanswered points on a layup from Uhrin and a deep
three-pointer from McMorrin for a 74-69 Eagle lead.
USM pulled back to within two on a pair of free throws from sophomore
guard Troy Jellison (Bangor, Maine) with 38 seconds to play. The Huskies had a
chance to tie the game with 10 seconds on the clock after a Husson turnover that
lead to a pair of USM free throws, but the Huskies failed to convert and Husson
hung on for the win.
Southern Maine finished the game shooting 44.6 percent (25-for-56) from
the field, but was hampered 19 turnovers. Husson shot 46.4 percent (26-for-56)
from the field and 44.4 percent from three-point range (8-for-18).
USM returns to action on Saturday (3:00 p.m.) when it hosts Eastern
Connecticut State in a Little East Conference game. Husson hosts Colby on
Thursday (7:00 p.m.)
################################################################################
Tuesday, January 6, 2009
Southern Maine’s Smith Named Little East Conference Rookie of the Week
GORHAM, Maine – Sophomore forward Otis Smith (Altamonte, Fla./Ocoee) of
the University of Southern Maine Huskies men’s basketball team has been named
the Little East Conference Rookie of the Week for the week ending Sunday,
January 4, 2009.
Smith is the first USM men’s basketball player to earn a weekly honor from
the conference this season. Smith averaged 14.5 points and 8.5 rebounds while
shooting 44.0 percent (11-for-25) from the field to lead the University of
Southern Maine to a 1-1 week at the Sig Makofski Invitational Tournament hosted
by Union College in Schenectady, N.Y.
Earning all-tournament honors, Smith netted a season-high 18 points against
Rutgers-Newark leading Southern Maine to a 80-73 overtime win. Smith scored
nine of his 18 points in the overtime period to give the Huskies the victory.
In the championship game, Smith tallied netted 11 points and grabbed a season-
best 12 rebounds. Smith finished the week with an outstanding 6-for-10 mark
(60.0 percent) from three-point range.
Smith is the Huskies’ third-leading scorer averaging 9.0 points and 5.4
rebounds per game while shooting a solid 43.1 percent (31-for-72) from beyond-
the-arc.
Southern Maine hosts Husson University on Wednesday (7:00 p.m.) in its next
contest.
################################################################################
Saturday, January 3, 2009
Union Downs Southern Maine 54-43
SCHENECTADY, New York – Senior guard Steve Madej (Burnt Hills, N.Y./Burnt
Hills-Ballston Lake) scored a game-high 13 points to lead the Union College
Dutchmen to a 54-43 win over the University of Southern Maine Huskies in the
championship game of the Sig Makofski Invitational Tournament at Union’s Viniar
Athletic Center Saturday afternoon.
With the loss Southern Maine falls to 3-8 overall. The win is Union’s
third straight and improves its overall record to 6-3.
Madej led four Dutchmen in double-figures knocking down four three-point
field goals and was named the tournament’s Most Valuable Player. Senior forward
Drew Desmarais (St. James, N.Y./Smithtown) tallied a double-double scoring 12
points on a 6-for-8 effort from the field while grabbing 12 rebounds to join
Madej on the all-tournament team. Junior guard Joey Lokitis (Norton,
Mass./Phillips Academy) and sophomore guard Drew Goldstein (Philadelphia,
Pa./The Haverford School) each chipped in with 11 points.
USM sophomore guard Otis Smith (Altamonte, Fla./Ocoee) led the Huskies
offensively with 11 points and 12 rebounds. Freshman forward Sean Bergeron
(Kennebunk, Maine) and sophomore guard Troy Jellison (Bangor, Maine) each
chipped in with 10 points. Smith earned a spot on the all-tournament team for
Southern Maine as did senior guard Greg Whitaker (Presque Isle, Maine).
In a low scoring contest with both teams shooting below 30 percent, Union
seized the upper hand taking a 22-15 lead at the halftime break. Madej scored
nine of his 12 points in the opening half for the Dutchmen, sinking a three of
his four three-pointers.
Southern Maine pulled to within four points of Union, 35-31, in the opening
six minutes of the second half on a three-pointer from Jellison with 12:39
remaining in the contest, but Union quickly pulled away scoring five unanswered
points. Senior forward Nick Ciresi (Kings Park, N.Y.) sank a pair of free
throws and was followed by a three-pointer from Goldstein for a 40-31 Union lead
with 11:32 on the clock.
The Dutchmen kept USM at bay over the next eight minutes only allowing the
Huskies to pull to with five, 44-39, on a three-pointer from Bergeron with 4:34
to play, before rattling off a 7-0 run over the next two minutes to lock up the
victory. Desmarais was integral to Union’s run, finding Lokitis for an open
three-pointer, before coming up with a steal and lay-up. Lokitis closed the run
with a fast break layup for a 51-39 lead with 1:51 on the clock.
Southern Maine finished the game shooting just 27.4 percent (17-for-62)
from the field while turning the ball over 17 times. Union fared slightly
better from the field making 34.7 percent (17-for-49) of its shots, but was
helped by a 13-for-19 effort (68.4 percent) from the free throw line. USM
finished 3-for-6 (50.0 percent) from the free throw line.
Southern Maine returns to action on Wednesday (7:00 p.m.) when it hosts
Husson University at Hill Gymnasium. Union hosts Eastern Connecticut State
University on Wednesday (7:00 p.m).
################################################################################
Friday, January 2, 2009
Southern Maine Defeats Rutgers-Newark in Overtime 80-73
SCHENECTADY, New York – Sophomore forward Otis Smith (Altamonte Springs,
Fla./Ocoee) scored nine of his 18 points in the overtime period to lead the
University of Southern Maine Huskies past the Rutgers-Newark Scarlet Raiders 80-
73 in the first game of the Sig Makofski Tournament hosted by Union College in
Schenectady, New York.
Winning its second game in its last three outings, Southern Maine improves to 3-
7 with the win and will face the winner of the Union/Medgar Evans game on
Saturday at 3:00 p.m. Rutgers-Newark will square off against the loser of the
Union/Medgar Evans game at 1:00 p.m.
Smith finished the game with 18 points on 7-for-11 shooting from the field
and added five rebounds. Junior guard Andy Tracy (Ellsworth, Maine/Maine
Central Institute) led Southern Maine in scoring with 21 points and seven
rebounds as four Huskies reached double-figures in scoring. Senior forward Greg
Whitaker (Presque Isle, Maine) and freshman guard Mike Poulin (Readfield,
Maine/Maranacook) each chipped in with 13 points. Whitaker added a team-high
nine rebounds for the Huskies.
Scarlet Raider senior forward David Cherry (Linden, N.J./Roselle Catholic)
paced his team with 21 points, nine rebounds, five assists and three steals.
Junior forward Deshawn Singleton (Passaic, N.J.) added 17 points and Tim Smith
(Mullica Hill, N.J./Camden Catholic) tossed in 10 points.
Trailing by five, 62-57, with 24 seconds to play following a pair free
throws from Whitaker, the Scarlet Raiders connected on a pair of three-pointers
to counteract one of two free throws from Poulin to force the overtime period.
Freshman guard Greg Moore (Jersey City, N.J./Bayonne) hit the first of two long-
range strikes on an assist from Smith, before Cherry nailed the game-tying
basket with five seconds to play. USM misfired on a potential game-winning
basket in its last possession to allow overtime.
In overtime both teams traded the lead in the first two minutes, before
USM created a seven-point cushion, 72-68, with 44 seconds to play with an 8-0
run. Tracy keyed the run with a lay-up and was followed by back-to-back three-
pointers from Smith.
Rutgers-Newark’s Moore pulled the Scarlet Raiders to within four on a
three-pointer with 33 seconds to play, but USM closed out the game making five
of eight free throws down the stretch for the win.
################################################################################
Saturday, December 13, 2008
Nationally-Ranked Corsairs Defeats Southern Maine 65-46
NORTH DARTMOUTH, Mass. – Junior forwards Brandon Shelton (Cambridge,
Mass./Cambridge Rindge & Latin) and Matt Walker (Brockton, Mass.) combined to
score 37 points to lead the nationally-ranked UMass Dartmouth Corsairs to a 65-
46 win over the University of Southern Maine Huskies in a Little East Conference
men’s basketball game Saturday afternoon at Tripp Athletic Center in North
Dartmouth, Mass.
Earning their third straight win, the Corsairs improve to 6-1 overall and
2-0 in the LEC. The Huskies fall to 2-7 overall and 0-2 in the Little East.
Shelton scored 19 points and grabbed nine rebounds – both game-high totals
– to pace the Corsairs, while Walker tossed in 18 points. Shelton finished the
game 8-for-14 from the field, as the Corsairs shot 43.3 percent (29-for-67) from
the field en route to the win. UMass Dartmouth senior guard Reece Freeman
(Cambridge, Mass./Cambridge Rindge & Latin) helped the Corsair offense work
passing off 10 assists to compliment five points, seven rebounds and a pair of
steals.
Southern Maine junior guard Greg Whitaker (Presque Isle, Maine) was the
only USM player in double-figures scoring 11 points on 5-for-9 shooting from the
floor. Junior guard Andy Tracy (Ellsworth, Maine/Maine Central Institute) added
eight points. Sophomore forward Otis Smith (Altamonte Springs, Fla./Ocoee) and
freshman guard Mike Poulin (Readfield, Maine/Maranacook) each chipped in with
seven points. Smith led the Huskies in rebounding grabbing a game-high 11
rebounds.
The Corsairs held USM to just nine first half field goals and 31.0 percent
(9-for-29) from the field in the opening half to take a commanding 32-20 lead at
the break. UMass Dartmouth scored 11 of its 31 first-half points off of 10
Husky turnovers.
In the second half, USM was unable to get closer than 10 points as the
Corsairs controlled play. After a three-pointer from Poulin to cut the Corsair
advantage to 49-39 with 9:38 remaining, Shelton scored five unanswered points
for UMass Dartmouth on a lay-up and a three-pointer to put his team ahead 54-39.
From there the Corsairs rolled to the 65-48 win.
Southern Maine is off until January when it competes against Rutgers-Newark
at the Union Invitational. The Huskies will face Rutgers-Newark on Friday,
January 2 at 6 p.m. UMass Dartmouth plays again on the same date at Occidental
at 10 p.m.
################################################################################
Monday, December 8, 2008
Tracy Jumper Puts USM Past UMaine Farmington 61-59
GORHAM, Maine – Junior guard Andy Tracy (Ellsworth, Maine/Maine Central
Institute) calmly collected a loose ball and sank an elbow jumper with five
seconds remaining in the regulation to lift the University of Southern Maine
Huskies to a 61-59 win over the University of Maine at Farmington Beavers in a
non-conference men’s basketball game Monday night at Hill Gymnasium in Gorham,
Maine.
Tracy’s game-winning shot halts the Huskies four-game losing streak and
delivers their second win of the season to improve to 2-6 overall. Dropping its
second game in as many contests, UMaine Farmington dips below .500 on the season
at 2-3 overall.
Tracy finished the game with a double-double scoring 14 points and
grabbing a game and career-high 12 rebounds. Freshman forward Sean Bergeron
(Kennebunk, Maine) led all scorers with 17 points and seven rebounds, while
sophomore guards Otis Smith (Altamonte Springs, Fla./Ocoee) and Luke Pollock
(Eliot, Maine/Marshwood) each chipped in with nine points. Smith added a
career-best 11 rebounds to help USM to a 43-37 advantage on the boards.
Sophomore forward Eric Taylor (Oakland, Maine/Messalonskee) led the
Beavers with 15 points and nine rebounds off of the bench. Senior forward Ted
Neil (Strong, Maine/Mt. Blue) added 12 points and senior forward Pat Howell
(Nobleboro, Maine/Lincoln Academy) chipped in with nine points and a team-high
10 rebounds.
Both teams struggled offensively, combining to make just 35 field goals in
the game, and shot in the high 20s in the opening half. Southern Maine shot an
ice-cold 8-for-30 (26.7 percent), while the Beavers enjoyed a slightly better 8-
for-28 (28.6 percent). The Beavers were able to eek out a 26-23 lead at the
break thanks to nine first half free throws (9-for-14).
In the second half each team battled back and forth and after a Tracy
offensive rebound and a lay-up to deliver the eight tied score of the half, 49-
49, with 5:09 to play, USM rattled off a 8-1 run to seemingly take control of
the game, 57-50, with 2:21 on the clock. The Huskies received baskets form four
different players in the run including layups from Bergeron, Tracy, Pollock and
freshman guard Mike Poulin (Bangor, Maine). The Beavers however were able to
counter with a run of their own to force the ninth tie of the half forcing the
Huskies into defensive miscues and getting to the free throw line. UMF
outscored USM 9-2 over a one-minute and 37 second span, including six free
throws and a game-tying three-pointer from Neil with 18 seconds on the clock.
In its next possession, USM was able to run some time off the clock before
the ball was knocked loose in the paint, setting up the Tracy jumper. UMF was
able to get off a deep range last second three-pointer as the buzzer sounded but
it bounced off the rim and out.
Southern Maine returns to action on Saturday (3:00 p.m.) at Little East
Conference opponent UMass Dartmouth. UMaine Farmington hosts Thomas College in
a North Atlantic Conference match-up on Wednesday (7:30 p.m.).
################################################################################
Saturday, December 6, 2008
Keene State Fights Past Southern Maine 73-64
GORHAM, Maine – Senior forwards Tyler Kathan (Ludlow, Vt./Springfield) and Nate
Anderson (Westminster, Mass./Oakmont Regional) combined to score 39 points and
grab 17 rebounds to power the Keene State College Owls past the University of
Southern Maine Huskies 73-64 in Little East Conference men’s basketball action
Saturday afternoon at Hill Gymnasium in Gorham, Maine.
With the win the Owls upped their overall record to 5-2 and start their LEC
season with a 1-0 mark. Dropping their fourth consecutive game, the Huskies
fall to 1-6 overall and 0-1 in the Little East.
Kathan was able to score in the paint and from the perimeter to register a
game-high 22 points. Kathan was 6-for-12 from the floor with a pair of three-
pointers and added seven rebounds, three assists and two steals. Anderson
notched a double-double with 17 points and 10 rebounds. A force in the low
block for the Owls, Anderson was an outstanding 7-for-10 from the field. KSC
freshman guard Ryan Bourgeois (Bedord, N.H./Trinity) added nine points, while
freshman forward Cody Snow (Leyden, Mass./Pioneer Regional) tossed in eight
points off of the bench with a 4-for-7 effort from the field.
USM freshman forward Sean Bergeron (Kennebunk, Maine/Kennebunk) led the
Huskies with a career-high 19 points and 10 rebounds. Freshman guard Mike
Poulin (Readfield, Maine/Maranacook) added 11 points and three streals off of
the bench, while junior forward Andy Tracy (Ellsworth, Maine/Maine Central
Institute) tossed in 10 points and grabbed nine boards.
Clinging to a one-point, 26-25, lead late in the first half, Keene State
outscored the Huskies 9-1 over the final six minutes of the opening stanza to
open up a 35-26 halftime advantage. Kathan and Anderson each scored three
points and freshman guard Derek D’Amours (Agawam, Mass.) dropped in three of his
five points of the game in the run.
Southern Maine threatened the Keene State lead midway through the second
half pulling to within a basket of the Owls. With the Owls leading nine, 47-38,
after one of two free throws from freshman guard Tavone Reid (Bridgeport,
Conn./Fairfield Prep), the Huskies scored six unanswered points on two free
throws from Tracy, a steal and a lay up from Bergeron and a driving lay-up from
sophomore guard Kione Morgan (Garland, Texas/Naaman Forest) to trail KSC 47-44
with 13:05 to play. However the Owls countered with a 7-0 run including a
three-pointer and a layup from Kathan to secure the win.
Keene State finished the game shooting 48.0 percent (24-for-50) from the
floor and was an outstanding 43.8 percent (7-for-16) from three-point range.
Southern Maine shot 38.7 percent (24-for-62) from the field.
Southern Maine returns to action on Monday (7:00 p.m.) when it host UMaine
Farmington in a non-conference game. Keene State travels to Rhode Island
College on Saturday (3:00 p.m.) for a Little East Conference game.
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Tuesday, December 2, 2008
Bowdoin Cruises Past Southern Maine 68-52
BRUNSWICK, Maine – Freshman guard Will Hanley (New Caanan, Conn.) scored a
team-high 13 points off of the bench to lead the Bowdoin College Polar Bears to
a 68-52 win over the University of Southern Maine Huskies in a non-conference
men’s basketball game Tuesday night at Morrell Gymnasium in Brunswick, Maine.
Earning their third consecutive game, the Polar Bears improve to 5-1
overall. Suffering its third straight loss, Southern Maine dips to 1-5.
Hanley finished the game 3-for-4 from the field including 2-for-3 from
three-point range to lead three Bowdoin players in double-figures. Sophomore
guard Randy Defeo (Ridgewood, N.J.) added 12 points while senior guard Kyle
Jackson (Acton, Mass./Acton-Boxboro) tossed in 10 points.
Southern Maine freshman forward Sean Bergeron (Kennebunk, Maine) led the
Huskies with 15 points on a 6-for-14 effort from the floor. Bergeron was joined
in double-digit scoring by sophomore forward Otis Smith (Altamonte Springs,
Fla./Ocoee) and junior guard Andy Tracy (Ellsworth, Maine/Maine Central
Institute). Tracy tallied 12 points, while Smith added 10.
With the score tied at 20-20 following a three-pointer from Bergeron, the
Huskies were outscored 16-5 over the final nine minutes of the half as Bowdoin
took a solid 36-25 lead into the halftime break. Defeo keyed the Polar Bear run
scoring nine of his 12 points in the scoring spurt sinking a trio of three-
pointers.
Southern Maine pulled to within five of Bowdoin, 38-33, on a pair of free
throws from Tracy with 15:35 to play, but the Polar Bears pushed back with an 8-
0 over the next three minutes to lead 46-33. The Huskies never recovered and
trailed by as many as 25 points in the second half.
Southern Maine finished the game shooting 40.8 percent (20-for-49) from the
field. Bowdoin shot 46.5 percent (20-for-43) but held a decisive advantage from
long-range sinking 12-of-23 three-pointers (52.2 percent).
Southern Maine returns to action on Saturday (3:00 p.m.) when it host Keene
State College in its Little East Conference opener. Bowdoin College hosts Bates
College on Saturday (4:00 p.m.) in a non-conference match up.
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Sunday, November 30, 2008
Monks Maul Southern Maine 72-55
GORHAM, Maine – Freshman guard Zach O’Brien (Schenectady, N.Y./Bishop
Gibbons) scored a 18 points and grabbed eight rebounds – both game-high totals –
to lead the St. Joseph’s College (Maine) Monks to a 72-55 win over the
University of Southern Maine Huskies in non-conference men’s basketball action
Sunday night at Hill Gymnasium in Gorham, Maine.
With the win St. Joseph’s College improve to 3-1 overall and secured the
Costello Cup, presented to the winner of the annual contest between the two
schools. Suffering their second straight loss Southern Maine dips to 1-4.
Contested over the last 20 years, the Costello Cup honors former USM Athletic
Director and Coach Richard “Doc” Costello. St. Joseph’s now leads the cup
series 11-8.
O’Brien was one of three Monks in double-figures scoring. O’Brien was an
outstanding 8-for-12 from the floor including 2-for-3 from three-point range.
Junior forward Raymond Eatmon (Huntington, N.Y./Walt Whitman) and sophomore
forward Chris Davis (New York, N.Y./Hyde School (CT)) each chipped in with 12
points a piece as the Monks shot a torrid 49.2 percent (29-for-59) from the
field.
Southern Maine freshman guard Otis Smith (Altamonte Springs, Fla./Ocoee)
led the Huskies with 17 points in his collegiate debut sinking 6-of-9 from the
floor. Junior guard Greg Whitaker (Presque Isle, Maine) was the only other USM
player in double figures tossing in 12 points on a 5-for-8 mark from the field.
Led by nine points each from O’Brien and senior forward Mitch Ouellet (Fort
Kent, Maine) the Monks took a commanding 41-27 lead at the half. St. Joseph’s
shot 53.1 percent (17-for-32) from the field in the opening stanza, including
four three-point field goals. Conversely the Huskies struggled to hit their
marks shooting a sub-par 36.7 percent (11-for-30) from the field. The Monks
continued to click offensively in the second half taking a 20-point, 55-35, lead
midway through the half and leading by as many as 21 points with just over five
minutes to play en route to the win.
The Monks also enjoyed a decisive 41-27 advantage on the boards led by
O’Brien’s eight caroms. Ouellet and Davis each grabbed six rebounds, while
senior guard Scot Vachon (Schenectady, N.Y./Albany Academy) and junior guard
Alberto Rue (Jamaica Plain, Mass./Loomis-Chaffee) both snagged five.
Southern Maine returns to action on Tuesday (5:30 p.m.) when it travels to
Bowdoin College for a non-conference game. St. Joseph’s College hosts Norwich
University on Wednesday (6:00 p.m.) in a Great Northeast Atlantic Conference
game.
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Tuesday, November 25, 2008
Bates Shoots Past Southern Maine 66-45
LEWISTON, Maine – Junior guard Chris Wilson (Brewer, Maine) and
sophomore forward Brian Ellis (Braintree, Mass.) combined to score 29 points as
the Bates College Bobcats overcame a 30-24 halftime deficit to defeat the
University of Southern Maine Huskies 66-45 in a non-conference men’s basketball
game Tuesday night at Alumni Gymnasium in Lewiston, Maine.
With the win Bates improves to 2-1 overall. Suffering their third loss in
four games, USM drops to 1-3 overall.
Wilson scored 12 of his 15 points while Ellis tossed in nine of his 14
points in the second half as the Bobcats outscored Southern Maine 42-15 in the
second stanza. Ellis recorded a double-double snatching a team-high 10
rebounds.
Southern Maine junior guard Greg Whitaker (Presque Isle, Maine) led the
Huskies with a double-double on 15 points and 11 rebounds. Whitaker finished
the game 7-for-14 from the floor. Sophomore guard Kione Morgan (Garland,
Texas/Naaman) was the only other USM player in double figures tossing in 11
points.
With both teams shooting well in the first half, Southern Maine held a
narrow 30-24 lead at the break. The Huskies opened the game shooting 50.0
percent (11-for-22) from the field including a 3-for-6 mark from three-point
range. Bates connected on 42.9 percent (9-for-21) of its field goal attempts.
The Huskies had a reversal of fortune in the second half, however, as they
went ice-cold from the field, making just four field goals in 30 tries in the
final 20 minutes of the game. Conversely, the Bobcats zeroed in on the basket
making 48.1 percent (13-of-27) of its shots in the second stanza, led by Wilson
and Ellis.
Trailing by five following a pair of USM free throws with 19:25 to play,
Bates rang up 14 unanswered points to take a 41-32 lead with 13:59 to play.
Wilson was pivotal in the Bobcats’ decisive run scoring 10 points, including a
pair of three-pointers.
A lay-up from USM sophomore guard Luke Pollock (Eliot, Maine/Marshwood) at
12:33 halted the Bobcat deluge, but Bates received scoring contributions from
six different players over the next seven minutes to rattle off a 14-3 and lead
Southern Maine 55-37 with 5:49 on the clock. From the there the Huskies never
got any closer than 15 points the rest of the way as the Bobcats cruised to the
win.
Bates finished the game shooting a solid 45.8 percent (22-for-48) from the
field, while the Huskies second half shooting woes left them with a 28.8 percent
(15-for-52) mark from the floor.
Southern Maine returns to action on Sunday (7:00 p.m.) at home against St.
Joseph’s College (Maine). Bates travels to Thomas College on Tuesday (7:00
p.m.).
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Tuesday, November 18, 2008
Whitaker, Tracy Lead USM Past UNE 85-71
GORHAM, Maine – Junior guard Greg Whitaker (Presque Isle, Maine) and
junior forward Andy Tracy (Ellsworth, Maine/Maine Central Institute) combined to
score 49 points to lead the University of Southern Maine Huskies to a 85-71 win
over the University of New England Nor’easters in a non-conference men’s
basketball Tuesday evening at Warren G. Hill Gymnasium in Gorham.
The win halts a two-game slide for Southern Maine to improve to 1-2
overall. Playing in their season-opener the University of New England stands at
0-1.
Whitaker notched a double-double for the Huskies shooting a blazing 12-for-
16 from the field while grabbing a game-high 10 rebounds. Tracy was equally as
hot from the field draining 8-of-12 from the floor including a pair of three-
pointers. Sophomore guard Luke Pollock (Eliot, Maine/Marshwood) gave the
Huskies a spark off of the bench scoring 15 points, grabbing six rebounds and
hustling his way to four steals.
University of New England senior forward Johnnie Jefferson (Dallas,
Texas/David W. Carter) scored a team-high 21 points, while sophomore guard J.J.
Roseman (Dallas, Texas/Grand Prairie) chipped in with 10 points. Junior guard
Jaykyri Simpson (East Cleburne, Texas/Cleburn) and freshman guard Quentin
Thompson (Austin, Texas/William B. Travis) each added nine points.
Falling behind by 10 points, 15-5, in the opening five minutes of the game,
Southern Maine clawed its way back to even the score at 15-15 with 9:01 to play
in the first half. The Huskies continued to push the pace offensively over the
next four minutes to open up an eight point advantage, 24-16 with 5:33 to play.
Whitaker tallied six points in USM’s 19-1 run and Tracy and Pollock each added
four points a piece. Freshman guard Billy Zolper (Bangor, Maine) netted all
five of his points in the pivotal run including a capping three-pointer. Both
teams battled back and fourth over the next five minutes and USM never
relinquished its lead taking a 34-28 advantage at the break.
In the second half USM opened with a 14-8 run to lead the Nor’easters 50-36
with 14:26 showing as Whitaker, Tracy and Pollock again led the way. Whitaker
scored USM’S first five points of the second half, while Tracy added five points
and Pollock four. From there USM would bend but not break over the next 14
minutes as UNE battled back to within three possessions eight times over the
remainder of regulation. UNE pulled to within six twice, with the last
occurring following a deep three-pointer from freshman guard Victor Oruonyehu
(Austin, Texas/Crockett) with 2:56 remaining to trail USM 70-64. However,
Whitaker and Tracy answered with back-to-back lay-ups to grow the Husky lead to
10, 74-64 with 1:33 to go and seal the victory.
Southern Maine returns to action on Tuesday (7:30 p.m.) when it travels to
Bates College. The Nor’easters travel to the Wentworth Institute of Technology
on Thursday (7:30 p.m.)
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Sunday, November 16, 2008
Endicott College Escapes Southern Maine 53-46
BEVERLY, Mass. – Junior guard Bobby Montrond (Brockton, Mass.) scored a
game-high 12 points to lead the Endicott College Gulls to a 53-46 win over the
University of Southern Maine Sunday afternoon in the second day of the DIME
Magazine Tip-Off Tournament in Beverly, Mass.
The win is the second straight for the Gulls who open their 2008-2009
season at 2-0. Suffering their second straight loss, Southern Maine dips to 0-2
on the season.
In a low-scoring affair, Montrond was the only Gull player in double-
figures. Junior guard Graham Whitelaw (Kennebunk, Maine/Cheverus) added eight
points for Endicott College, while senior guard Ross Stewart (Palm Harbor,
Fla./East Lake) and sophomore forward Chris Galbraith (Lowell,
Mass./Marianapolis) each tossed in six points.
Junior guard Andy Tracy (Ellsworth, Maine/Maine Central Institute) led
the Huskies offensively with 10 points, while freshman forward Sean Bergeron
(Kennebunk, Maine) added nine points and a team-high seven rebounds. Senior
guard Greg Whitaker (Presque Isle, Maine) added eight points for the Huskies.
Holding a commanding 35-20 lead at the break, Endicott was able to hold
off the Huskies in the second half to earn the win. The Gulls held Southern
Maine to just seven field goals in the first half on a frigid 25.9 percent (7-
for-26) effort from the floor. Conversely, the Gulls connected on 14-of-30
(46.7 percent) attempts, including an outstanding 5-for-6 mark from three-point
range. After a slow start in the first half, USM came out of the gates in the
second half with an 15-2 run to close the gap to 37-33 with 12:07 to play.
However, the Gulls were able to push back with an 8-2 run over the next three
minutes to return their cushion to a double-digit margin, 45-35, to fend off the
Huskies’ surge.
USM pulled to within five of the Gulls with 1:31 to play following a
pair of free throws from Whitaker, but Stewart threw down an emphatic dunk and
Montrond sank two free throws during the Gulls ensuing possessions to close the
door on any thought of a USM come-back bid.
Southern Maine returns to action in its home opener against the
University of New England on Tuesday (7:30 p.m.). Endicott College travels to
Emmanuel College on Saturday (5:00 p.m.).
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Saturday, November 15, 2008
Wentworth Downs Southern Maine 72-59
BEVERLY, Mass. – Senior guard Todd Doyle (Mystic, Conn./Fitch) scored 19
points to lead four players in double figures at the Wentworth College Leopards
defeated the University of Southern Maine Huskies 72-59 in the opening game of
the DIME Magazine Tip-Off Invitational Saturday night at Endicott College in
Beverly, Mass.
The opening game for both teams, Wentworth begins its 2008-2009 season with
a 1-0 record. It is the first time since the 1998-1999 season that Wentworth
has won its season-opener. The Huskies fall to 0-1 with the loss.
Doyle was 5-for-11 from the field including a 3-for-4 mark from three-point
range to lead the Leopards. Junior forward Shane West (Saco, Maine/Milford) and
junior forward Matt Abbott (Falmouth, Mass.) each chipped in with a double-
double to lead a balanced Wentworth attack. West tossed in 17 points and Abbott
added 13 while both players tied for game-high rebounding honors with 10 each.
Freshman guard Brendan Monteiro (Brockton, Mass./Catholic Memorial) scored 11
points to round out the double-digit scoring for Wentworth.
Junior forward Greg Whitaker (Presque Isle, Maine) led the Huskies with 16
points on a 7-for-15 mark from the field, while sophomore guard Kione Morgan
(Garland, Texas/Naaman Forest) added 13 points. Junior guard Andy Tracy
(Ellsworth, Maine/Maine Central Institute) added 10 points off of the bench.
Both teams struggled offensively in the opening half and Wentworth went
into the break clinging to a slim 23-22 lead. In the second half, Wentworth was
able to rally from a seven-point deficit in the first five minutes of the second
stanza outscoring the Huskies 49-37 in the second half to take the win.
Wentworth’s second half surge was due in part to an outstanding 68.0 percent
(17-for-25) effort from the field including a perfect 4-for-4 mark from three-
point rage.
Southern Maine returns to action on Sunday (3:00 p.m.) when the Huskies
will face host the Endicott College Gulls. The Gulls defeated Lesley College
71-40 in the late game.
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November 11, 2008
Anchormen Unanimous Choice In Little East Men’s Basketball Preseason Poll
(Courtesy of Jack Holleran, Little East Conference)
NORTH DARTMOUTH, Mass. – Rhode Island College sits atop the Little East
Conference Men’s Basketball Preseason Coaches’ Poll for the fourth straight
season after a vote by the conference’s eight head coaches. The Anchormen are
the first unanimous selection in the history of the Little East, earning all
eight first-place votes for a total of 64 points.
The University of Massachusetts Dartmouth is predicted to finish second
with 55 points, while Keene State College and Western Connecticut State
University share the third spot in the annual survey with 43 total points.
Under the watchful eye of Head Coach Bob Walsh, Rhode Island College has
raised the Little East Conference Tournament trophy the past two seasons. The
Anchormen will attempt to become just the second team to capture three
consecutive conference tournament crowns since the Corsairs recorded the three-
peat from 1993-95. Rhode Island College has already garnered some national
attention, earning the No. 16 ranking in the D3Hoops.com national preseason
poll. Walsh returns all five starters and top-seven scorers from last season’s
club that posted an overall record of 23-7, marking the third most single-season
victories in the program’s history. Senior guards Tirrell Hill (Bronx, N.Y.) and
Cameron Stewart (Newport, R.I.) are the top-returning offensive threats. Hill
averaged 13.9 points to earn all-conference first-team honors, while Stewart
poured in 10 points per game. Senior guard Bobby Bailey (Fall River, Mass.) can
fill up a stat sheet, averaging 9.9 points, 3.9 rebounds, 2.7 assists, 2.0
steals per game. The all-Little East second-team pick was named the conference
most outstanding player in the 2008 Little East Conference Tournament. The
Anchormen begin their title defense at 7 p.m. on Nov. 18 at Manhattanville
College.
Head Coach Brian Baptiste led UMass Dartmouth to the program’s first
regular season title since 2001 and a first round bye in the NCAA Division III
Tournament. The Corsairs were ranked among the top-25 teams in the nation for
the majority of the campaign, rising to No. 2 in the country on Feb. 3, 2008.
UMass Dartmouth posted the second most single-season victories in the program’s
history, boasting an overall record of 25-4. Baptiste will welcome back all-
conference first-team senior guard Reece Freeman (Cambridge, Mass.) and the 2008
Little East Rookie of the Year, Brandon Stephens (Dorchester, Mass.).
The Corsairs host Framingham State College at 3 p.m. on Nov. 15 in the semifinal
round of the annual Hampton Inn Classic.
A year ago, the Owls reached the Little East Conference Tournament
semifinal round for the seventh time in the past eight seasons. Head Coach Rob
Colbert led Keene State to an overall record of 16-11, including an 8-6 mark in
the conference. The Owls’ will depend on the front-court combination of senior
Tyler Kathan (Ludlow, Vt.) and classmate Nate Anderson (Westminster, Mass.) to
provide the scoring punch. Kathan was recently named to the D3Hoops.com
Preseason All-America, first-team. The two-time All-Little East first-team
selection nearly averaged a double-double during his junior campaign, scoring
18.1 points and pulling in 8.3 rebounds per game. Anderson also averaged double
figures in points with 10.6. Keene State College will host Springfield College
at 7:30 p.m. on Nov. 18 in its season debut.
The Colonials are ranked among the top-four teams in the preseason
conference standings for the 11th time in the past 12 seasons. Head Coach Bob
Campbell and Western Connecticut are coming off a 15-12 record and a berth in
the Eastern College Athletic Conference New England semifinals. The guard
combination of senior Dashon Jennings (Bridgeport, Conn.) and junior Tyshawn
Gillespie (Hartford, Conn.) will power Colonials’ offense. Jennings is the top-
returning scorer, averaging 13.0 points, while Gillespie is top-playmaker,
handing out a team best 115 assists. Western Connecticut will open the campaign
at the Roger Williams Tournament on Nov. 21 against Tufts University.
Completing the coaches’ poll in projected order of finish are Eastern
Connecticut State University (30), Plymouth State University (25), University of
Massachusetts Boston (15), and the University of Southern Maine (13).
Initially formed in 1986 as a six-team men's and women's basketball
conference, the Little East Conference has since grown to its present eight-
school membership, sponsoring championship play in 19 intercollegiate athletics:
baseball; men's and women's basketball; men's and women's cross country; field
hockey; men's and women's lacrosse; men's and women's soccer; softball; women's
swimming; men's and women's tennis; men's and women's indoor track; men's and
women's outdoor track and women's volleyball.
Rk. Institution (First Place Votes) Total Points
1. Rhode Island College (8) 64
2. UMass Dartmouth 55
3. Keene State College 43
Western Connecticut State 43
5. Eastern Connecticut State 30
6. Plymouth State University 25
7. UMass Boston 15
8. Southern Maine 13
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Tuesday, November 11, 2008
Whitaker, Morgan Named USM Men’s Basketball Captain
GORHAM, Maine – Junior forward Greg Whitaker (Presque Isle, Maine/Presque
Isle) and sophomore guard Kione Morgan (Garland, Texas/Naaman Forest) have been
named co-captains of the 2008-2009 University of Southern Maine Huskies men’s
basketball team. The announcement was made by USM head coach Karl Henrikson as
the Huskies prepare for their season opening game against Wentworth at the
Endicott College Tip-Off Tournament on Saturday (5:00 p.m.).
Whitaker, a 6-5 small forward, is the Huskies top returning scorer from
last season. As a sophomore, Whitaker averaged 9.2 points per game while
shooting 43.8 percent (99-for-226) from the field and 41.0 percent from three-
point range (32-for-78). Whitaker scored in double-figures on 11 occasions
netting a season-high 18 points on a 7-for-14 effort from the field including a
4-for-6 mark from three-point range in a 58-48 win over the University of Maine
at Farmington.
“Greg has gained great respect from his teammates for his on the court
abilities and his off the court character,” noted Henrikson who is entering his
fifth season with the Huskies. “As a veteran his leadership will be crucial to
the development of our very youthful squad.”
Morgan, a 5-10 guard, played a reserve role for the Huskies in his freshman
campaign, averaging 1.2 points per game while taking on some of Southern Maine’s
most demanding defensive assignments.
“Kione is a very mature young man with a strong work ethic,” said
Henrikson. “He will provide both vocal leadership and leadership through
example.”
Following its opening night tip-off with Wentworth, Southern Maine will
face host Endicott College (Nov. 16, 3:00 p.m.). USM will face local rival the
University of New England (Nov. 18, 7:30 p.m.) in its home opener before
traveling to Lewiston, Maine for a game against Bates College (Nov. 25, 7:30
p.m.). Southern Maine closes out the month with a home game against St.
Joseph’s College (Maine) for the annual Costello Cup (Nov. 30, 7:00 p.m.).
A pair of away contests bookend two home games in the month of December for
the Huskies. USM travels to Bowdoin College (Dec. 2, 5:30 p.m.) and then hosts
Keene State College in its first Little East Conference game of the season (Dec.
6, 3:00 p.m.) and UMaine Farmington (Dec. 8, 7:00 p.m.) before traveling to LEC
foe UMass Dartmouth (Dec. 13, 3:00 p.m.).
In the New Year, Southern Maine travels to Schenectady, N.Y. for the Union
College Invitational. The Huskies will face Rutgers-Newark in the first game
(Jan. 2, 6:00 p.m.) and then will play either Union College or Medgar Evers
(Jan. 3, 1:00/3:00 p.m.). USM hosts Husson University (Jan. 7, 7:00 p.m.) and
LEC rival Eastern Connecticut State (Jan. 10, 3:00 p.m.) before travelling to
Rhode Island College (Jan. 13, 7:30 p.m.) and Western Connecticut State (Jan.
17, 3:00 p.m.) for a conference games. The Huskies hosts UMass Boston (Jan. 20,
7:30 p.m.) and then travels to Keene State (Jan. 24, 3:00 p.m.) before welcoming
Plymouth State (Jan. 27, 7:30 p.m.) and UMass Dartmouth (Jan. 31, 3:00 p.m.).
In February the Huskies begin the month with three consecutive away games
at Colby (Feb. 3, 7:00 p.m.), Eastern Connecticut State (Feb. 7, 3:00 p.m.) and
UMass Boston (Feb. 10, 7:30 p.m.). Southern Maine hosts Rhode Island College
(Feb. 14, 3:00 p.m.) and then travels to Plymouth State (Feb. 17, 7:30 p.m.)
before closing out its regular season at home against Western Connecticut State
(Feb. 21, 3:00 p.m.).
The Little East Conference tournament begins on February 24 with the four
quarterfinal round games played at the higher seeded team. The semifinal and
championship games will be played at the highest remaining seed on February 27
and February 28 respectively. The winner of the Little East Conference
tournament receives the conference’s automatic berth into the NCAA Division III
Men’s Basketball Championship.
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