Trailing 41-40 at intermission, junior Matt McManus (Cumberland, R.I.) hit consecutive 3-pointers in the second minute of the second half to help the Nor'easters seize control and start their run.
All told in the final 20 minutes, UNE made 23 of 30 (76.7 percent) free throw attempts, while converting 12 of 25 (48.0 percent) attempts from the floor. For the game the Nor'easters held a 50-32 rebounding advantage.
McManus hit five 3-pointers to aid in his 19-point evening. Junior Mark Oliver (Gloucester, Mass.) had 17 points, seven rebounds and five assists, and sophomore Nick Farynaz (Gray, Maine) added 14 points and seven boards.
Also joining the double-digit scoring club were sophomore Tom Button (Lyndeborough, N.H.) with a career-best 15 points to go with nine boards and first-year guard John Marriott (Fairfax, Vt.), who matched Button with 15 points on a field goal and 13 free throws.
Junior Adam Rich (Madison, Maine) led the way for Thomas with 19 points, including five 3-pointers. Junior James Godley (Brookton, Maine) and first-year Josh Yucius (Hanson, Mass.) each scored 14.
The Terriers (3-3) will travel to New England College on Saturday, while the Nor'easters take on the University of Maine Farmington in a road contest beginning at 3:00 p.m.
UNIV. OF NEW ENGLAND 92, THOMAS 74 THOMAS (3-3) Rich, Adam 6-15 2-2 19; Yucius, Josh 6-8 2-5 14; Godley, James 5-11 3-5 14; Barard, Josh 3-5 0-0 7; Conrad, Ryan 3-10 1-2 7; Woodbury, Andy 2-3 0-2 5; Grappi, Dan 2-9 0-0 5; Jett, Reggie 0-2 2-2 2; Blodgett, Adam 0-2 1-2 1; DePalmer, Nick 0-2 0-0 0; Elrod, Rashad 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 27-68 11-20 74. UNIV. OF NEW ENGLAND (4-3) Matt McManus 6-9 2-3 19; Mark Oliver 5-8 7-7 17; John Marriott 1-7 13-18 15; Tom Button 6-12 3-6 15; Nick Farynaz 5-9 3-3 14; Mark Regis 2-5 1-2 6; Mike Warner 1-3 0-1 3; Brett Hutchinson 1-1 0-0 2; Casey Fleet 0-1 1-2 1; Kenny Poulin 0-1 0-0 0; Dana White 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 27-57 30-42 92. Thomas........................ 41 33 - 74 Univ. of New England.......... 40 52 - 92 3-point goals-Thomas 9-18 (Rich, Adam 5-8; Woodbury, Andy 1-2; Barard, Josh 1-3; Godley, James 1-2; Grappi, Dan 1-3), Univ. of New England 8-20 (Matt McManus 5-8; Mike Warner 1-1; Mark Regis 1-4; Nick Farynaz 1-3; Dana White 0-1; Tom Button 0-1; John Marriott 0-1; Mark Oliver 0-1). Fouled out--Thomas-Conrad, Ryan; Woodbury, Andy, Univ. of New England-None. Rebounds-Thomas 32 (Yucius, Josh 8), Univ. of New England 50 (John Marriott 9). Assists-Thomas 11 (Grappi, Dan 4), Univ. of New England 14 (Mark Oliver 5). Total fouls-Thomas 27, Univ. of New England 15. A-200