MBB: Another double-double for Tsiklauri, Beacons outlast Panthers

BOSTON, Mass. – Graduate student Giorgi Tsiklauri (Brooklyn, N.Y.) snagged another double-double, but Plymouth State University fell to the University of Massachusetts Boston, 66-64, during Little East Conference (LEC) men's basketball action at the Clark Athletic Center on Thursday evening.

The Panthers got out to a solid start with a 16-10 lead. Tsiklauri started his night with a shot from beyond the arc and his momentum did not stop there. He tallied another pair of threes to lift the Panthers to a double-digit lead.

The Beacons began to rally, though, fighting back to just a one-point deficit. After some start and stop in the final minutes, the Beacons closed out win with a key free throw and the Panthers' last-ditch effort for the win fell short finalizing the 66-64 final score.

Plymouth State dips to 5-10 (1-5 LEC), while the Beacons improve to 3-13 and 2-5 in LEC play.

The Basics:

• Plymouth State 64, UMass Boston 66
  • Plymouth State (5-10, 1-5 LEC)
  • UMass Boston (3-13, 2-5 LEC)

Top Performers:

• Giorgi Tsiklauri (19 pts, 7-11 fg, 3-7 3pt, 10 reb)
• Kyler Bosse (14 pts, 2-5 3pt, 3 reb, 3 ast)
• Eli Pockette (9 pts, 3-3 fg, 1-1 3pt, 3 reb, 3 ast)
• Kevin Newton-Delgado (4 pts, 7 reb, 3 ast)

How it Happened:

• After the Panthers jumped out to a 6-2 lead early in the opening half, senior Kyler Bosse (Manchester, N.H.) and freshman Eli Pockette (Rutland, Vt.) nailed three combined shots from beyond the arc to pace a six-point advantage (16-10) halfway through the frame.
• The Beacons battled back to within a point, but the duo of Tsiklauri and sophomore Torran Bosworth (Springfield, Mass.) slammed another pair of threes, and a couple of free throws boosted the Panthers to a 33-29 lead heading into the second half.
• Tsiklauri notched another two three-pointers to open the scoring for the Panthers, giving them their first double-digit lead after junior Kevin Newton-Delgado (Hopkinton, N.H.) scored in the paint to make it 43-32.
• UMass Boston began to reel in the Panthers, before nabbing a 58-57 lead with 3:04 left.
• The teams went back-and-forth in the final minutes, trading layups, before the hosts splashed a three pointer. Junior Elijah Swanson (Meredith, N.H.) responded right away, though, to keep the score close at 64-63.
• The Beacons knocked down a mid-range jumper and added a free throw to take the lead to 66-64 and PSU's last-ditch effort for a game-winning three was no good.

By the Numbers:

• The Panthers outrebounded UMass Boston by a narrow 33-31 margin, with a 23-15 advantage on the defensive boards.
• The hosts recorded 24 second chance points.
• Both teams were efficient in the second half as Plymouth State shot 52.2%, while UMass Boston hit at 50% from the field.
• Tsiklauri led the team with 19 points and 10 rebounds for his fourth career double-double.
• PSU has a 53-26 record against the Beacons, but UMass Boston has taken the last three matchups.

Up Next:

• Plymouth State heads home to battle Eastern Connecticut State on Saturday (Jan. 13) in another LEC contest. Tipoff is set for 3:00 p.m.

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