BIDDEFORD, Maine -- A 14-2 run over three minutes early in the 2nd period proved to be the difference for No. 20 Endicott College in a 78-65 Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) men's basketball win over the University of New England on Tuesday evening (Dec. 6) at the Harold Alfond Forum.

The nationally-ranked Gulls improve to 5-1 (3-0 CCC) on the young season, while the Nor'easters slip back to to 2-6 overall (1-2 CCC).

Neither side led by more than three points over the initial 23 minutes of the contest (knotted 32-32 at half), with the advantage changing hands 11 times. The 10th tie of the match came at 40-all before Endicott struck with the deciding stretch. Kamahl Walker and Daquan Sampson accounted for 11 unanswered points prior to a Max Motroni three-pointer that put the visitors up, 54-42, with 14:00 left to play.

Not long after, UNE recorded seven straight to cut things to seven (59-52), but that was as close as the home team would get.

Walker netted 20 points for the Gulls, which included 10 freebies to help EC out-score its opponent by 16 (25-9) at the line. Motroni also scored 20, and added seven rebounds as well as five assists. Sampson finished with 16 points and a game-high eight boards, as Endicott posted a 38-28 edge on the glass.

For the Nor'easters, Tom Nason tallied a team-best 14 points and Jean-Luc Parker contributed 13. Daron Hoges, Jr. went for 10 points and seven rebounds, and Drew Coveney notched seven points, eight assists, and seven rebounds before fouling out with just over six minutes remaining.

Endicott returns home to next face Salem State University on Thursday (5:30 p.m.). UNE will visit Westfield State University on Sunday (2 p.m.).