Jan 13, 2015
SPRINGFIELD, Mass. -- The University of New England men's basketball team defeated Western New England University by a slim 60-58 margin on Tuesday night (Jan. 13), in a Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) match played at the Alumni Healthful Living Center.
Big Blue's third win in five outings has the Nor'easters at 4-9 overall and 2-4 in CCC action. The Golden Bears slip back to 3-10 on the year (1-5 CCC).
After a free throw by UNE first-year Drew Coveney made it 60-55 with 2:21 left, WNE got one back a few seconds later and added two more freebies with a little more than one minute remaining to make it 60-58.
UNE's next two trips resulted in a turnover and missed layup, leaving the door open for the hosts with 14 seconds remaining. A three-point attempt from the top of the arc was blocked out-of-bounds by Coveney with 2.1 seconds on the clock, and, following a timeout, Western New England could not get a shot off before the buzzer sounded.
The Nor'easters were paced by the efficient shooting of sophomore CJ Autry, who scored 16 points on 4-of-4 shooting from long range while also collecting a team-best six rebounds, prior to fouling out in the closing minutes. Junior Devin Thompson netted 15 points, and Coveney finished with six points, five rebounds, and six assists.
The Golden Bears received a game-high 19 points and seven rebounds from Zack Askew. Mike Gelineau chipped in with 14 points, which included WNE's only two treys on the evening (out of 21; 9.5 percent). Musa Elsir pulled down nine boards to help the home side establish a 39-27 rebounding advantage.
In the 1st half, UNE turned a late 26-21 deficit into a 33-32 lead at the break, connecting on 44 percent of its field goal tries and going 6-of-11 from deep.
Elsir hit two of his three baskets to begin the 2nd stanza, and a pair of free throws from Gelineau gave the Golden Bears another five-point edge (38-33). But 10 straight from the Nor'easters swung the cushion back in favor of the visitors, and Big Blue would not trail again.
The margin got as high as eight (53-45) with 8:50 to go on a three-pointer from Thompson, before WNE began working its way back.
UNE will be back in Biddeford on Thursday (7:30 p.m.) to face Gordon College. The Golden Bears are slated to visit Wentworth Institute of Technology the same night.