News Release

DANBURY, CT — The Western Connecticut State University men's basketball team captured its first Little East Conference victory as it edged University of Massachusetts Dartmouth, 64-62 at the Feldman Arena and O'Neill Center on Saturday afternoon.

Greg Cole (Terrytown, NY) led WestConn with 17 points including an insurance free throw with nine seconds remaining in the game.

Tony Peluso (Southbury, CT) canned what proved to be the game-winning bucket with a 10-foot baseline jumper with 1:23 left in the game. His basket gave the Colonials a 63-61 lead.

UMass Dartmouth drew within one point, 63-62 after a free throw by Stephane Abelard (Brockton, MA) with 56 ticks left.

With 11 second remaining, the Corsairs' Paul Pawlowski (Taunton, MA) drove the lane for what looked to be an uncontested lay up and the lead. However, WestConn's freshman forward Marcus Mann (Windsor, CT) drew the offensive foul, preserving the lead.

Kyle Norfleet (Waterbury, CT) added 11 points and seven rebounds for the Colonials, now 8-6 overall and 1-4 in the conference.

Abelard and Dan Holbrook (Lexington, MA) each had 12 points to lead the Corsairs, which fall to 8-6 overall and 2-3 in the LEC

The WestConn host Rhode Island College on Tuesday, January 17. Tip off is slated for 7:30 p.m.