GORHAM, Maine — Sophomore forward Caleb Sayward (Raymond, Maine) scored a career-high 20 points to lead the University of Southern Maine Huskies University to an 82-73 triumph over the University of Massachusetts Boston Beacons in Little East Conference action on Tuesday evening at the Hill gym.
Southern Maine, which avenged a 94-85 setback in January at UMass Boston, improves to 8-14 overall and 2-9 in the league, while the Beacons fall to 5-17 and 1-9. The teams return to action on Saturday when Southern Maine travels to Rhode Island College and UMass Boston entertains Plymouth State University.
The game remained a one-possession contest throughout the opening moments of the second half, and UMass Boston tied the score at 52-52 on a single free throw from junior Roger Perry (Roxbury, Mass.). A three-pointer from freshman Perkins Pierribia (Boston, Mass.) gave the Beacons a 55-52 lead with 10:25 to play.
However, it would be UMass Boston’s final lead of the contest. Sophomore Bill Hardwick (Boothbay, Maine) hit a lay up and made the ensuing free throw to tie the score at 55-55 with 9:40 to play, before junior Ryan Garland (Hermon, Maine) hit a lay up to cap a fast break and give the Huskies the lead for good at 57-55 with 8:56 remaining.
Southern Maine gradually pulled away down the stretch, and took its largest lead at 78-66 on a lay up from junior Mike Francoeur (Somerswoth, N.H.) with 1:31 to play in the contest.
The Huskies also received 17 points from Garland, 10 points from junior Jason Levecque (Westbrook, Maine) and nine points and a team-high eight rebounds from sophomore Jesse McKinnell (Manomet, Mass.).
UMass Boston was paced by junior Roger Perry (Roxbury, Mass.), who tallied 20 points, while junior James Hall (Jacksonville, Fla.) added 16 points and 12 rebounds, Pierribia contributed 11 points and 11 boards and junior Eddie Ramos (Malden, Mass.) had 16 points.
Southern Maine outscored UMass Boston by a 78-51 margin from the floor, but the Beacons made 22-30 (.733) free throws, while the Huskies made but 4-11 (.364).