UMass Boston owned a 46-45 edge with 5:56 to play in the game, before Plymouth State held the Beacons scoreless for the next 4:24, while scoring eight unanswered points to take a 53-46 lead with 1:43 to go in the contest. Sophomore guard A.J. Titus would snap UMB’s scoring drought with a three-pointer at 1:32 to make it 53-49, but it would be the only points the Beacons would score in the final 5:56 of the game as the Panthers outscored them 14-3 in that same time frame, fueled by a pair of three-pointers by Mark Dunham.
In a first half that didn’t see much scoring at all, the teams were never separated by more than six points the entire session as UMass Boston owned the largest margin with a 24-18 score with 1:25 remaining in the first half. Plymouth State scored the final four points of the stanza to cut the deficit to 24-22 at the intermission.
The Beacons netted the first six points of the second half to open up a 30-22 advantage with 18:13 showing, but the Panthers shot back with a 12-2 run, behind nine points from Walcek, to take a 34-32 margin with 15:41 left to play in the second session. Sophomore forward Mark Doran put UMass Boston back on top with consecutive hoops for a 36-34 lead at 14:40 of the second half and the Beacons held onto their edge until Phil Bourassa canned a trey at 6:09 of the second period for a 45-44 Plymouth State edge.
Doran led UMass Boston with a game-high 17 points on 8-11 from the floor, while adding six rebounds, a steal and an assist in 22 minutes of action. Junior swingman Tony Barros contributed with nine points, six boards, an assist, a steal and a block, while freshman center Rodney Bennett ripped down a season-high 12 rebounds in addition to four points, two assists and a pair of blocked shots.
Walcek added six rebounds, three assists, a steal and a block to his day for the Panthers and Dunham finished with 11 points, two rebounds and three steals. Bourassa chipped in with nine points, two rebounds, four assists, two steals and a block.
The Beacons will be in action again on Tuesday, February 14 when it travels to Gorham, ME to take on Little East Conference rival University of Southern Maine at 7:30 p.m., while Plymouth State hosts Keene State College on February 14 at 7:30 p.m.
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Plymouth State University vs UMass Boston 2/11/06 3:00 p.m. at Boston, MA - Clark Athletic Center At Boston, MA - Clark Athletic Center PLYMOUTH STATE UNIVERSITY 59, UMASS BOSTON 49 PLYMOUTH STATE UNIVERSITY (15-8, 7-5 LEC) Mike Walcek 5-10 5-6 16; Mark Dunham 4-8 0-0 11; Phil Bourassa 2-5 4-6 9; Brandon Boggs 3-9 0-2 6; Devin Ruocco 2-7 0-0 5; Chris Wilkinson 2-2 0-0 4; Kevin Boutilier 2-7 0-0 4; Tim Russell 1-2 0-0 2; Sean Hanlon 1-2 0-0 2; Charles Gaddy 0-1 0-0 0; J.J. Oliver 0-1 0-0 0; Mike Sullivan 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 22-55 9-14 59. UMASS BOSTON (14-9, 9-3 LEC) Mark Doran 8-11 0-1 17; Tony Barros 2-4 4-4 9; Charles Yuan 3-5 1-4 7; James L. Hall 3-6 0-1 6; Rodney Bennett 1-4 2-3 4; Amigo Paniagua 1-5 1-1 3; A.J. Titus 1-3 0-1 3; Tommy Howe 0-2 0-0 0; Eric T. Bateman 0-5 0-0 0. Totals 19-45 8-15 49. Plymouth State University..... 22 37 - 59 UMass Boston.................. 24 25 - 49 3-point goals-Plymouth State University 6-25 (Mark Dunham 3-6; Mike Walcek 1-4; Phil Bourassa 1-4; Devin Ruocco 1-6; Tim Russell 0-1; J.J. Oliver 0-1; Brandon Boggs 0-3), UMass Boston 3-8 (Tony Barros 1-3; A.J. Titus 1-1; Mark Doran 1-2; Tommy Howe 0-1; Eric T. Bateman 0-1). Fouled out--Plymouth State University-None, UMass Boston-None. Rebounds-Plymouth State University 30 (Mike Walcek 6), UMass Boston 37 (Rodney Bennett 12). Assists-Plymouth State University 14 (Phil Bourassa 4), UMass Boston 12 (A.J. Titus 4). Total fouls-Plymouth State University 17, UMass Boston 18. A-250