The Corsairs held UMFK to 22 shots and 31.8 per cent from the field in the first half and opened up a 39-19 halftime lead. In the second half, UMD made 18 of 33 shots from the field for 54.5 per cent as they outscored the Bengals, 45-39.
Junior guard Devon Maiorano led the Corsairs with 18 points, making six of 12 shots from the field, including four three-point baskets. Junior forward Stephane Abelard added 14, sophomore guard A.J. Tavares and senior forward Charlie Large added 13 apiece, and junior Paul Pawlowski had 10.
Edmundas Akstinas had 16 points to lead Maine-Fort Kent, while Darius Parker added 10.
“I thought we played hard,” said UMass Dartmouth Head Coach Brian Baptiste. “We were a little sloppy, but that’s to be expected. Some of our guys stepped up and played well. Charlie Large got some good experience. I thought Stephane Abelard’s play was a key to our success, he stepped up big time, and Julian Tynes did a good job as well.”
UMD improved to 1-0 and advanced to Saturday’s championship game, where they will play Catholic, which defeated Salve Regina in the opener. Maine-Fort Kent will play SRU for third place.
Newspaper Box Score Maine-Fort Kent vs UMASS DARTMOUTH 11/18/05 8:00 P.M. at TRIPP ATHLETIC CENTER At TRIPP ATHLETIC CENTER UMASS DARTMOUTH 84, MAINE-FORT KENT 58 MAINE-FORT KENT (2-2) Edmundas Akstinas 6-13 4-4 16; Darius Parker 4-5 2-2 10; David Russo 3-9 0-0 7; Tom Bard 2-4 2-2 6; Billy Russo 3-10 0-4 6; Jordan Allen 1-5 2-4 5; Jay Myers 2-3 0-0 5; Hamill Bassue 1-4 0-2 3. Totals 22-53 10-18 58. UMASS DARTMOUTH (1-0) Devon Maiorano 6-12 2-2 18; Stephane Abelard 5-14 1-2 14; A.J. Tavares 5-10 1-1 13; Charlie Large 4-12 5-7 13; Paul Pawlowski 4-8 1-2 10; Reece Freeman 3-8 0-2 6; Steve Hashim 1-1 0-0 3; Chris Lapriore 1-1 0-0 3; Julian Tynes 1-5 0-0 2; Darryl Goodridge 1-3 0-0 2. Totals 31-74 10-16 84. Maine-Fort Kent............... 19 39 - 58 UMASS DARTMOUTH............... 39 45 - 84 3-point goals-Maine-Fort Kent 4-9 (Jordan Allen 1-2; David Russo 1-2; Hamill Bassue 1-2; Jay Myers 1-2; Tom Bard 0-1), UMASS DARTMOUTH 12-30 (Devon Maiorano 4-9; Stephane Abelard 3-8; A.J. Tavares 2-5; Chris Lapriore 1-1; Paul Pawlowski 1-2; Steve Hashim 1-1; Darryl Goodridge 0-2; Julian Tynes 0-1; Reece Freeman 0-1). Fouled out--Maine-Fort Kent-None, UMASS DARTMOUTH-None. Rebounds-Maine-Fort Kent 36 (Edmundas Akstinas 7), UMASS DARTMOUTH 46 (Paul Pawlowski 11). Assists-Maine-Fort Kent 12 (Darius Parker 4), UMASS DARTMOUTH 23 (Reece Freeman 6). Total fouls-Maine-Fort Kent 16, UMASS DARTMOUTH 18. A-1250 2005 HAMPTON INN CLASSIC-GAME TWO