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Gorham, ME—Senior forward Corteze Isaac (Germantown, MD) scored a game-high 27 points to lead four players in double figures as the University of Southern Maine Huskies defeated the Rhode Island College Anchormen 95-88 in a Little East Conference men's basketball game Tuesday night at Hill Gym. |
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The Huskies (9-5, 1-3 LEC) snap an 11-game losing streak to the Anchormen (8-4, 3-1 LEC) with their first league victory. |
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Isaac, who scored 18 of his 27 points in the second half, was 8-for-20 from the field. Senior forward Otis Smith (Altamonte Springs, FL) added 21 points and a game-high nine rebounds, while senior guard Devin Chambers (Memphis, TN) and junior forward Sean Bergeron (Kennebunk, ME) each added 13 points. Bergerson also had five rebound and four steals. |
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Senior guard Antone Gray (Providence, RI) led RIC with 17 points and eight assists. Senior forward Carl Lee (Warwick, RI) had 16 points, on seven-for-nine shooting, to go along with three rebounds and three assists. |
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Junior forward Mason Choice (Newport, RI) had 14 points, seven rebounds, three assists and three steals, while classmate center Mike Akinrola (Woonsocket, RI) contributed 15 points and five boards. |
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With USM clinging to a narrow 37-33 lead at the break, the game continued to be a back and forth battle in the second half. Neither team led by more than three points in the first 10 minutes of the second half. |
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Following a three from Isaac with 9:38 to play, USM grabbed its largest lead of the second half, only to see it quickly trimmed to a single point, 60-59, on a three-point play from Akinrola who scored on a fast break lay-up on a full court assist from Gray. Spaulding) and a three-pointer from Smith to lead 66-59 with 8:34 to play. |
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The Huskies responded to the RIC pressure however and scored six straight points on a traditional three-point play from senior forward Todd Forcier (Gonic, NH). |
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RIC answered back with a three from sophomore guard Tahrike Carter (Brooklyn, CT), but the Huskies continued to come up with big shots as Smith sank his second straight three-pointer from the left side for a 69-62 USM lead with 7:20 to play. |
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From there RIC never got any closer than four points the rest of the way as USM received timely scoring from Isaac and Smith down the stretch. |
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RIC shot 50 percent (33-for-66) from the field and only turned the ball over 12 times. USM shot 49 percent (32-for-66) and turned the ball over 15 times. The hosts held the advantage, 40-33, on the glass. |
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In upcoming action, Rhode Island College will travel to Colby on Thursday, Jan. 13. |
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