SPRINGFIELD, Mass. -- Senior guard Brian Jones (Austin, Texas) made the first of two free throws with 1:02 remaining in overtime to break a deadlocked game and give the University of New England Nor'easters a 70-69 Commonwealth Coast Conference win over Western New England University on Saturday at the Alumni Healthful Living Center.

The Nor'easters had forced overtime on a bucket by Charles Fenner III (Bronx, N.Y.) with 24 seconds remaining in regulation. Fenner's basket capped a UNE rally that saw the Nor'easters erase an eight-point deficit (58-50) in the final four minutes.

Senior Ryan Knotek (Saratoga Springs, N.Y.) led for the way for the Nor'easters (2-13, 2-6 CCC), scoring 15 points on 6-for-10 shooting before fouling out. Fenner finished with 14 points, including four 3-pointers. The sophomore guard made 5 of 8 field goal attempts and added three steals. Senior Marcus Winn (Austin, Texas) tossed in 12 points.

For Western New England (5-10, 2-7), Andre Shaw scored a game-high 19 points, while Daniel Minto posted a double-double with 17 points and 17 rebounds. Dennis Rinaldi added 11 points.

With the Nor'easters up by seven (25-18) and five minutes remaining in the opening half, the Golden Bears got back-to-back 3's by Shaw and a bucket down low by Rinaldi to take a one-point (26-25) advantage. Play would go back-and-forth the remainder of the frame before a jumper by junior Nevin Lessard (Belgrade, Maine) with three seconds on the clock gave UNE a 33-32 lead heading into the locker room.

WNE outscored Big Blue 15-8 over the initial 7:29 of the second half to establish a 47-41 cushion. Despite a pair of treys from Fenner in the next few minutes, the Golden Bears continued to hold the lead, an advantage that went to eight (58-50) on two free throws by Minto with 4:26 remaining in regulation.

UNE would hold WNE scoreless the next 3:34 and was able to square things up behind eight points from Winn, who sandwiched two 3-pointers around a layup. Winn's second three-ball knotted the tilt at 58 with 1:16 on the clock.

Minto made two free throws with 52 seconds left to set the stage for Fenner's basket to force overtime.

In the extra session, Western New England led 69-67 after two more free throws from Minto with 2:09 on the clock. The hosts would not score again,  and UNE tied the score at 69 on a drive by Winn.

After the Golden Bears came up empty on their next possession, Jones made the first of two free throw attempts for the game-winning margin. WNE had four field goal tries the rest of the way, including a pair of efforts from the paint in the final 10 seconds.

The Nor'easters overcame a 19-3 deficit at the free throw line and 51- 33 rebounding margin by knocking down 13 three-pointers and shooting 43.5 percent (27 of 62) from the floor, compared to 34.3 percent (23 of 67) accuracy by Western New England.

UNE will host Curry College on Monday evening in a contest rescheduled from Jan. 12. Action at James A. Beaudry Gymansium is scheduled to tip-off at 7:30 p.m.

The Golden Bears host Gordon College Wednesday at 7:30 p.m.