GORHAM, Maine -- Sophomore guard Alex Kee (Bath, Maine) scored all of his 10 points in the second half -- including a crucial three-pointer with just over a minute to play -- as the University of Southern Maine withstood a furious comeback bid by the University of New England to take an 85-74 win in non-conference men's basketball action at Warren G. Hill Gymnasium.
Trailing by as many as 19 (59-40) midway thru the second half, the Nor'easters cut the deficit to two on several occasions but were unable to draw even. USM had led 37-26 at the break but extended its lead early in the second frame before UNE chipped away. The Huskies led from start-to-finish after getting out of the blocks on an 8-0 run.
Junior forward Sean Bergeron (Kennebunk, Maine) paced the Huskies (1-0) with 18 points. He made all six of his field goal attempts and was 6-for-7 from the charity stripe. Senior forward Otis Smith (Altamonte Springs, Fla.) contributed a double-double with 15 points and 11 rebounds. Junior frontcourter Leif O'Connell (Hodgdon, Maine) was 6 of 7 from the field on his way to 13 points.
Overall, USM made 51.6 percent (32 of 62) of its field goal tries, including 14 of 25 (56 percent) after halftime. The hosts utilized a decided height advantage down low to out-rebound UNE, 42-24. The Nor'easters were also hampered by 25 turnovers.
For UNE (0-1), junior guard Marcus Winn (Austin, Texas) led all scorers with a career-high 24 points. Winn made four shots from beyond the arc.
The Nor'easters also received career-best scoring performances from juniors Ryan Knotek (Saratoga Springs, N.Y.) and Jordan Stinglen (South Berwick, Maine), who tallied 13 points apiece. Knotek was 6 of 8 from the floor and grabbed nine boards. Stinglen was credited with four steals.
Big Blue opens its 2010-11 home schedule Wednesday when St. Joseph's College comes to Biddeford for an 8 p.m. tilt. All the action can be seen live on Nor'easter All-Access.
USM, which won for the first time at home since Feb. 21, 2009, will look to make it two in a row when it hosts Wentworth Institute of Technology that same evening.