BIDDEFORD, Maine -- Jackson McCoy finished with a career-best 20 points to pace the University of New England men's basketball team into the title game of the Hampton Inn Jim Beaudry Classic with an 89-82 victory over Regis College (Mass.) on Saturday evening (Nov. 16) at the Harold Alfond Forum.
The Nor'easters (2-1) will face New York University in Sunday's 3 p.m. championship contest; the Violets defeated Mitchell College by an 81-73 tally in the nightcap of the opening round. Regis and Mitchell will square off in the consolation match at 1 p.m.
UNE scored the first seven points and maintained that lead throughout, however things got close down the stretch. The spread was 13 (47-34) at the break and grew to 19 (65-46) by the 12:37 mark of the 2nd half, but a 21-7 run by the Pride reduced the deficit to just five with 7:05 to go.
The difference swung from nine (76-67) to three (76-73), back to nine again (85-76) and down to four (86-82), but after a UNE free throw, Regis came up empty on its chance to get it back to a one possession game in the waning seconds.
McCoy went 5-of-7 from the floor and added 10 free throws to reach his scoring total, while grabbing six rebounds. The Nor'easters received 15 points from Alex Kravchuk, and another 13 out of both Ray Evans and Siddiq Canty. Kravchuk, Evans, and McCoy all fouled out of the game in the final five minutes.
Avery DeBrito contributed a team-high nine rebounds, eight assists, and three steals for UNE, which out-scored the visitors by 11 at the charity stripe. The Pride struggled at the line all night, sinking just 13-of-33 attempts.
Regis (0-1) was guided by 16 points from Devante Thompson, and Marc Trinidad secured a double-double of 12 points and 14 caroms. Justin Evelyn and Cam Wilkins each supported with 11 points.