The Lions (1-0 CCC) remain perfect on the season at 8-0, while the Nor'easters slip back to 1-5 (0-1 CCC).

Senior Alex Jarman led ENC with 21 points on 10-of-15 shooting, and pulled down six rebounds. Junior Justin Wagner added 16 points, largely behind four treys, to go with five caroms. Classmate Jaylen Owens totaled 14 points, seven assists, six rebounds, and three steals. Junior Eric Lynch chipped in with 10 points and four assists.

Big Blue received a game-high 26 points and four assists from junior Devin Thompson, who made all seven of his two-point attempts and went 4-of-9 from deep. Sophomore Jean-Luc Parker contributed nine points, and six others had between four and six points in support. Sophomore Sam Thomas pulled down a match-best seven rebounds for UNE, which held a 37-34 edge on the glass.

A three-pointer by Thompson had the Lions' cushion down to one (15-14) at the 12:23 mark of the 1st half, but a few minutes later, an 8-0 spurt by Eastern Nazarene bumped the gap up to 12 (29-17). Sophomore Christian Lynch tallied six of his eight points during the stretch, which spanned a little more than one minute.

The Nor'easters reduced the deficit to six (38-32) late in the frame on consecutive treys from Parker and sophomore CJ Autry, but ENC junior Jeremy Wagner knocked down his only triple of the night on the next trip down to make it 41-32 at halftime. UNE was hampered by 11 turnovers in the period that led to 12 points for the visitors.

The margin shifted between as little as eight (54-46) and 15 (65-50) past the midway point of the 2nd half, but was sliced down to seven (73-66) when Thompson buried a three-pointer with 2:15 left on the clock.

Eric Lynch answered with a layup on the ensuing possession to halt the momentum of a 9-3 run from the hosts and maintain a comfortable separation.

Both sides will be at home on Saturday (3 p.m.). Eastern Nazarene is slated to entertain Curry College, while Big Blue will take on Endicott College.