Boutilier’s last two points, coming on a pair of free throws midway through the second half, also pushed him over the 1,000-point mark for his career, the 21st men’s player in school history to reach the magic milestone. He now has 1,001 points in 106 career games. Boutilier was 7-of-10 from the field Thursday night and 4-of-4 from the line while adding a pair of blocked shots.
Boutilier was the only PSU starter to reach double figures in scoring. Senior Mark Dunham (Salem, N.H./Pinkerton) and sophomore Tim Russell (Littleton, N.H.) came off the Panther bench to score 12 and 11 points, respectively, a career-high for Russell.
Senior center Travis Carrier (Auburn, Maine) led the home team with 22 points and seven rebounds, hitting 7-of-12 from the field and 8-of-10 from the line. Senior Travis Magnusson (Thomaston, Maine) contributed a double-double with 11 points and 12 assists, while sophomore Matt St. John (Wayne, Maine) knocked down 14 points for the Beavers.
UMF took a 12-8 lead in the first five minutes of the game, but PSU scored 10 straight points and never trailed again. The Beavers kept it close, trailing by only six at halftime (35-29).
The Panthers started to pull away in the second half, going up by 13 points (54-41) with 13 minutes remaining. The Beavers wouldn’t quit, though, and rallied the pull to within two points on several occasions, the last coming at 67-65 with five minutes remaining. PSU had trouble putting the Beavers away, and needed four straight successful free throws in the final minute by senior Brandon Boggs (Strafford, N.H.) to seal the win.
PSU, 13-5, returns home to Foley Gymnasium on Saturday for a Little East Conference meeting against Rhode Island College (3:00 p.m.). UMF, 7-8, visits Johnson State Saturday for a North Atlantic Conference match-up (1:00 p.m.)
-- 30 --