BOSTON, Mass. – With .9 seconds left in regulation, and with the Beacons trailing by one, senior Quadry Allen (White Castle, La.) scored perhaps the biggest basket of his college career, as the guard laid in the game-winner to give the Beacons a 64-63 win over Rhode Island College Saturday afternoon in a Little East Conference contest at Clark Athletic Center Gymnasium.
THE BASICS
UMass Boston 64, Rhode Island College 63
UMass Boston (6-14, 2-8 Little East Conference)
Rhode Island College (4-17, 3-7 Little East Conference)
HOW IT HAPPENED
After a missed free throw by Rhode Island College, senior forward Selim Omerovic (Saugus, Mass.) pulled down the defensive rebound. He would then pass the ball off to Allen, who then tore up the court. As time was getting set to expire, the senior guard put the ball up with a defender right on top of him. The ball would kiss off the glass and find nothing but net to send the Beacons and their fans into a frenzy.
Rhode Island College would go for the buzzer beater but, would fall just short as the fans rushed the floor to celebrate the victory. With the win the Beacons not only closed off a eight game losing streak, but the Beacons gave first year head coach Jason Harris his first victory over his alma mater.
In a close affair from start to finish, the final two minutes of action set-up Allen's huge game-winning play. Trailing 63-57 with 2:06 left to play, the Beacons got a pair of made free throws from Maurice Magras (Medford, Mass.) to make it a two possession game with 1:48 left in regulation. Magras would then nail a jumper to cut the lead to two with 66 seconds remaining.
The Anchormen failed to convert on their next possession, with UMass Boston choosing not to foul right away. The Beacons would then earn a trip to the free throw line, where Dan Powers (Westwood, Mass.) went 1-for-2 to make it 63-62 with eight seconds left. Rhode Island College who grabbed the defensive rebound, on Powers missed free throw were immediately fouled by Magras.
With a chance to clinch the game for his squad, Brandon Williams, Jr. missed both free throws, with the second miss setting up the huge play by Omerovic and Allen.
On the day, Allen's game-winner represented the only made field goal by the Louisiana native, as he went 1-for-8. Magras capped off his day with 16 points, while Powers produced a strong double-double of 17 points and 16 rebounds. He also managed five assists and two steals.
Justin Campbell led the way for the Anchormen with his 17 points, while Jason Jones grabbed 12 boards.
BY THE NUMBERS
- Saturday's win marked the first for the Beacons over RIC since 2008, when they earned a two-point victory in Boston
- UMass Boston held a 40-31 advantage in rebounds
- The Anchormen finished shooting 44.2% (23-52) from the field, while UMass Boston shot 37.7% (23-61)
- Powers 16 rebounds marked a career-high for the junior forward
WHO'S NEXT
The Beacons will travel to Southern Maine on Wednesday for a 7:30 p.m. conference game.