After trailing by as many as 15 in the 1st half, the difference was 49-39 in favor of the Golden Bears before a trey by Matt Lettick, a three-point play from Jean-Luc Parker, and a pair of triples by Parker on four consecutive possessions (1:38) vaulted the Nor'easters into a 51-51 tie.

WNE went back in front and three times pushed the gap out to five (56-51, 58-53, 60-55), but a three-pointer followed by a floater in the lane by UNE's Drew Coveney locked things at 60-all.

Mikey Pettway put the Golden Bears ahead with a lay-up, only to see Devin Thompson drain one from deep to give Big Blue its first advantage of the day (63-62) at the 2:57 mark. Coveney added a free throw and Zack Askew made a couple at the stripe for WNE to level the match with 1:15 on the clock.

With 0:49 showing, Lettick turned an offensive board into one point at the line, and Parker established a two-point edge with the first of two freebies inside 0:05 remaining. Western New England gathered the rebound on the second and managed to line up a game-winning attempt from halfcourt, but the shot caromed off the front iron.

Thompson finished with a team-high 18 points for UNE (10-7, 5-5 CCC). Coveney and Parker combined for all but one of their 27 points (15 and 12, respectively) after intermission. Coveney also added five assists for the hosts, who shot 48 percent from the field and only committed three turnovers in the 2nd frame.

The Golden Bears (6-10, 4-6 CCC) were paced by Pettway with 19 points. Mike Gelineau chipped in with 12 points and seven boards. Daniel Silva pulled in a game-best eight rebounds.

WNE controlled play from the start, jumping out to a 13-3 cushion less than four minutes in after five in-a-row by Gelineau, who dialed up 34 points in a losing effort when the teams played back in December.

The visitors were ahead, 35-20, before a Coveney free throw to close the 1st half. The Golden Bears surrendered the ball just twice in the period while limiting UNE to 32 percent from the floor.