CASTINE, Maine – Aaron Hutchins (E. Millinocket, Maine) 14 points, built on a foundation of four three pointers, led Maine-Presque Isle to a 45-32 win over Maine Maritime Academy in the season opener for both squads. The Owls (1-0) three-point shooting was critical in securing their first win on the Mariners (0-1) floor since January of 2007.

Hutchins went 5-of-10 from the floor, including a 4-of-8 effort from behind the arc to tie the Mariners' Andy Ball (Hermon, Maine) for a game-high 14 points. The Owls hit on 8-of-23 treys on the night. Hutchins and Kyle Corrigan (Caribou, Maine) accounted for the first pair opening a 6-2 lead a little over eight minutes in. Corrigan finished the night with 11. The Mariners tied it 6-6, but a Patrick Manifold (Great Yarmouth, U.K.) layup put the Owls in front for good. Hutchins dropped another three on the next possession to build the lead out to five.

Michael Warner (Norwich, U.K.) and Brad Trask (Easton, Maine) each hit threes to stretch the lead to the largest first-half differential, eight points, on both occasions. Warner made his mark in the game on the glass pulling down a game-high 11 rebounds. His Owls led 20-13 at the break.

After a poor shooting performance in the first half, the rim seemed to open up a bit more for UMPI in the second stanza. The Owls clicked on 10-of-24 shots (41.7%) in the second half after a 7-of-28 effort (25%) in the first 20 minutes. MMA's shooting woes only improved slightly in the second half, clicking on 8-of-28 (28.6%) in the second half, after a 6-of-28 (21.4%) first half.

Ball cut the Owls lead down to six, 22-16, with 18:41 left in the game, but Hutchins answered two minutes later. His jumper from the lane sparked a 7-3 mini-run before a Ball trey, followed by another Ball jumper settled things momentarily at 29-21.

The lead was still eight when Loren Fawthrop (Amherst, N.S.) hit an outside jumper to reignite the Owls offense. UMPI clicked on three-point shots on three of its next four possessions to open the game's largest lead with 7:03 remaining, 42-23. The Owls cruised to the finish line from there.

Ball hauled in nine rebounds to go with his 14 points. Shawn Dostie (Bowdoinham, Maine) scored 10 points, grabbed six rebounds and blocked four shots.

UMPI got 16 points from its bench, while the Mariners only mustered four points from its reserves. Each team turned the ball over 11 times. MMA was able to capitalize on the miscues for a dozen points, while only allowing six on its mistakes.

The Mariners return to action on Friday evening at Regis where they will play in the Regis Tipoff Tournament. UMPI will travel to Waterville for Thomas' tipoff tourney.

ME.-PRESQUE ISLE 45, MAINE MARITIME ACADEMY 32

ME.-PRESQUE ISLE (1-0)

Aaron Hutchins 5-10 0-1 14; Kyle Corrigan 4-14 2-4 11; Patrick Manifold 3-12 1-4 7; Michael Warner 2-4 0-0 5; Brad Trask 1-4 0-0 3; Gerardo Vasquez 1-7 0-1 3; Loren Fawthrop 1-1 0-0 2; Robert Wegner 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 17-52 3-10 45.

MAINE MARITIME ACADEMY (0-1)

Andy Ball 6-14 0-0 14; Shawn Dostie 5-11 0-0 10; Tyler Pineo 1-13 1-2 4; Nick Richie 1-3 0-0 2; Shawn Silva 1-4 0-0 2; Jason Hatch 0-1 0-0 0; Benjamin Russell 0-6 0-0 0; Brandon Theriault 0-2 0-0 0; David Lord 0-1 0-0 0; Scott Alexander 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 14-56 1-2 32.

Me.-Presque Isle             20           25           45

Maine Maritime Academy           13           19           32

3-point goals--Me.-Presque Isle 8-23 (Aaron Hutchins 4-8; Gerardo Vasquez 1-3; Michael Warner 1-2; Brad Trask 1-4; Kyle Corrigan 1-6), Maine Maritime Academy 3-22 (Andy Ball 2-5; Tyler Pineo 1-11; Jason Hatch 0-1; Benjamin Russell 0-2; Brandon Theriault 0-2; Scott Alexander 0-1).

Fouled out--Me.-Presque Isle-None, Maine Maritime Academy-None.

Rebounds--Me.-Presque Isle 39 (Michael Warner 11), Maine Maritime Academy 44 (Andy Ball 9).

Assists--Me.-Presque Isle 7 (Gerardo Vasquez 3), Maine Maritime Academy 5 (Andy Ball 2).

Total fouls--Me.-Presque Isle 10, Maine Maritime Academy 16.

Technical fouls--Me.-Presque Isle-None, Maine Maritime Academy-None.