Nor'easters, Fenner hold off Eastern Nazarene, 67-61

More news about: University of New England

BIDDEFORD, Maine -- Charles Fenner III (Bronx, N.Y.) scored five quick points to break a 59-59 game inside the final three minutes to give the University of New England the separation it needed for a 67-61 Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) men's basketball victory over Eastern Nazarene College Wednesday evening at James A. Beaudry Gymnasium.


Fenner totaled 30 points on the night to help the Nor'easters (6-16, 6-9 CCC) win for the sixth time in their last 10 outings.

Coming out of halftime with a 33-30 edge, a three-pointer by Fenner made the difference six after 2:16 of the period. But the Lions reeled off 14 unanswered points in a span of 3:50 to assume a 44-36 lead with 13:35 left. Junior Aaron Johnson (Rosindale, Mass.) had two of his three treys during the stretch for Eastern Nazarene.

Big Blue responded right back with an 18-2 run in the 4:59 that followed to make it 54-46. Fenner tallied eight of his second-half 18 in the spurt.

The Lions worked things back even at 56-56 with 4:43 to go -- aided by five of junior Mike McCoy's (Altamonte Springs, Fla.) nine points in the frame -- and, after a deep shot from UNE senior Marcus Winn (Austin, Texas), ENC senior CJ Gonzales (Providence, R.I.) converted an old-fashioned three-point play to knot things up heading into the home stretch.

Fenner sunk 11 of his 20 shot attempts in the game -- including 5-of-10 from long range -- to top the 30-point mark for the second time in nine days. He also pulled down a team-high eight rebounds and picked up three steals.

Winn contributed 16 points to the winning cause, knocking down 5-of-11 tries from beyond the arc. Junior Alex Alsadi (Scottsdale, Ariz.) added six points, six rebounds, and four assists.

McCoy posted a team-best 14 points on 6-of-9 shooting from the floor to lead the visitors. Junior Chima Ezeigbo (Roanoke, Va.) registered a double-double in support with 11 points and 11 boards.

Early on, an opening dunk by Ezeigbo and a three-pointer by senior DeAngelo Alston (West Columbia, S.C.) put the visitors up, 5-0.

UNE swung the advantage in its direction with 16 of the next 21 points (16-10), which featured all seven points scored in the game by senior Jarryd Rossignol (Caribou, Maine).

The remainder of the half saw five lead changes and four ties, and was capped by a Winn trifecta with five ticks left in the stanza to present the hosts with a 33-30 cushion at the break. Winn tallied 12 of his 16 in the first period.

Big Blue stays in Biddeford until Saturday, when it welcomes in Nichols College for a 3 p.m. contest. Eastern Nazarene (3-19, 2-13 CCC) returns home to face Western New England University the same day and time.