The victory was also sparked by an outstanding defensive effort by the Nor'easters,. who limited NEC to 30.4 percent (17 of 56) shooting for the contest.
McManus shot a tidy 7-for-12 from the floor to go with a 9-for-12 performance at the free throw line.
Also matching his career high in points was sophomore Tom Button (Lyndeborough, N.H.) with 15 on 6-of-9 shooting to go with seven rebounds. Junior Mark Regis (Monroe, N.H.) came off the bench to net 14 points.
Senior Tim LaTorra (Windsor Locks, Conn.) was the lone NEC player in double figures with 11 points. He also added seven boards and three steals.
The Nor'easters (7-16, 3-12 CCC) snapped a six-game losing streak, and will conclude their season on Saturday with a road game at Nichols College.
New England College (12-12, 4-11), still in contention for the final playoff spot in the CCC North Division, travels to Salve Regina University that same day. H
UNIV. OF NEW ENGLAND 66, NEW ENGLAND COLLEGE 51 UNIV. OF NEW ENGLAND (7-16, 3-12 CCC) Matt McManus 7-12 9-12 26; Tom Button 6-9 3-3 15; Mark Regis 5-12 2-2 14; Brett Hutchinson 2-9 1-2 5; Kenny Poulin 2-4 0-0 4; Isaac Stickney 1-3 0-0 2; Mike Warner 0-3 0-0 0; Mark Oliver 0-2 0-1 0. Totals 23-54 15-20 66. NEW ENGLAND COLLEGE (12-12, 4-11 CCC) Tim LaTorra 5-11 1-2 11; Kingsley Onyechi 3-7 3-5 9; Ryan Jaziri 2-11 2-2 8; Vernon Wynott IV 1-7 4-4 7; Michael Smith 3-4 0-0 6; Antoine Sylvia 0-2 4-4 4; Sean Ulichny 2-5 0-0 4; Dwayne Miller 1-3 0-0 2; Kelly Coder 0-4 0-0 0; Eric Sliney 0-2 0-0 0. Totals 17-56 14-17 51. Univ. of New England.......... 22 44 - 66 New England College........... 16 35 - 51 3-point goals-Univ. of New England 5-17 (Matt McManus 3-6; Mark Regis 2-7; Mike Warner 0-2; Mark Oliver 0-1; Tom Button 0-1), New England College 3-11 (Ryan Jaziri 2-6; Vernon Wynott IV 1-2; Kelly Coder 0-1; Kingsley Onyechi 0-1; Tim LaTorra 0-1). Fouled out--Univ. of New England-Isaac Stickney, New England College-None. Rebounds-Univ. of New England 33 (Isaac Stickney 8), New England College 39 (Tim LaTorra 7). Assists-Univ. of New England 13 (Mark Regis 3; Matt McManus 3), New England College 10 (Vernon Wynott IV 5). Total fouls-Univ. of New England 12, New England College 18. A-150