With Curry leading 67-66, UNE sophomore Tom Button (Lyndeborough, N.H.) had a follow-up dunk to put the Nor'easters ahead (68-67) with 2:50 to play. The Nor'easters extended their lead to three on their next possession when junior Mark Oliver (Gloucester, Mass.) hit an 8-footer at the 2:08 mark.
Jones made 2 of 2 at the line on the Colonels' next possession to close the gap to 70-69 with 1:50 left. Neither team could convert on their next two tries, setting up Jones' game-winning free throws. The Nor'easters turned the ball over twice in the final 20 seconds and were unable to get a shot to tie or win.
Junior Michael Mohrin (Greenwich, Conn.) scored a game-high 19 points for the winners, while junior Raheim Lamb (Roxbury, Mass.) and sophomore James Bartelle (Dorchester, Mass.) tallied 15 apiece. Lamb was 5-for-6 from the floor to go with four blocked shots and three steals.
Oliver paced UNE (5-9, 1-6 CCC) with 17 points and seven assists. Junior Matt McManus (Cumberland, R.I.) nailed four 3-pointers en route to 16 points. He also grabbed nine rebounds and handed out three assists. Sophomore Nick Farynaz (Gray, Maine) scored 12 points, and Button finished with nine points and a game-high 15 boards.
The Nor'easters host Endicott College on Tuesday, while Curry travels to Newbury College for a non-conference engagement.
At Biddeford, Maine - Campus Center CURRY 71, UNIV. OF NEW ENGLAND 70 CURRY (6-7, 4-2 CCC) Michael Mohrin 5-12 6-7 19; James Bartelle 6-12 0-3 15; Raheim Lamb 5-6 5-7 15; Marcus Jones 3-9 0-0 8; Stephen Prescod 2-6 4-7 8; Tim Jones 1-10 4-4 6. Totals 22-55 19-28 71. UNIV. OF NEW ENGLAND (5-9, 1-6 CCC) Mark Oliver 7-15 3-4 17; Matt McManus 6-12 0-0 16; Nick Farynaz 5-8 2-2 12; Tom Button 4-5 1-2 9; Mark Regis 3-6 0-0 8; Isaac Stickney 2-3 0-0 4; Mike Warner 1-1 0-0 2; Randall Thomas 1-3 0-0 2. Totals 29-53 6-8 70. Curry......................... 40 31 - 71 Univ. of New England.......... 37 33 - 70 3-point goals-Curry 8-23 (Michael Mohrin 3-6; James Bartelle 3-7; Marcus Jones 2-5; Tim Jones 0-4; Stephen Prescod 0-1), Univ. of New England 6-15 (Matt McManus 4-8; Mark Regis 2-5; Mark Oliver 0-2). Fouled out--Curry-None, Univ. of New England-None. Rebounds-Curry 22 (James Bartelle 5; Stephen Prescod 5), Univ. of New England 40 (Tom Button 15). Assists-Curry 13 (Marcus Jones 4), Univ. of New England 13 (Mark Oliver 7). Total fouls-Curry 11, Univ. of New England 22. A-125