BIDDEFORD, Maine -- The University of New England men's basketball team opened up a 27-14 halftime lead and cruised to a 66-41 season-opening win over Maine Maritime Academy in the Ramada Roundball Invitational on Saturday (Nov. 15) at the Harold Alfond Forum.

UNE (1-0) advances to the finals of its own event and will face Middlebury College tomorrow at 2 p.m. The Panthers defeated Mitchell College, 101-71, in Saturday's other first-round game. Maine Maritime and Mitchell will square off in the day's first game at 12 p.m.

Sophomore Jean-Luc Parker led all scorers with 15 points to pace the Nor'easters. Junior Devin Thompson overcame a scoreless first half to contribute 12 points in the win. He also added 11 rebounds, seven assists and six steals. Sophomore Sam Thomas scored a career-high 12 points on 6-for-11 shooting to go with six boards. First-year Drew Coveney hauled in nine rebounds from the guard position.

Sophomore Nick Holt came off the bench to score a team-high 11 points for the Mariners (0-1). He made three shots from beyond the arc and added seven rebounds. Junior Brian Goda collared a game-best 15 rebounds for MMA.