WILLIMANTIC, Conn. –More often than not, the outcome of the contest between the Eastern Connecticut State University and University of Massachusetts Dartmouth men's basketball teams – two of the LEC's Original Six institutions – is decided in the final minutes.
Wednesday evening's contest at Francis E. Geissler Gymnasium – the 110th meeting overall in the series – was no exception.
Although UMass Dartmouth (2-5, 1-0 LEC) methodically built a 17-point lead late in the first half and led by 12 at halftime, Eastern (1-8, 0-2 LEC) clawed back to take its only second-half lead on a steal and thunderous dunk by first-year junior transfer Ty Calloway (Enfield) before the visitors eventually sent the reeling Warriors to their sixth straight loss and fourth in as many home contests, 83-78.
The loss also ended a four-game home winning streak for Eastern over UMass, whose last win at Geissler Gym had come by a point in the second of two regular-season meetings between the teams in 2018/19.
Down by 12 at halftime, Eastern came out gunning the second half, outscoring the Corsairs, 9-2 over the first two minutes to cut the gap to five. The Corsairs managed to push the lead back to double digits (10 points) but Eastern managed to tie the game with 4:36 left on a jumper by junior guard Dan Wellington (Bridgeport). UMass later failed to connect on five straight shots over two possessions before Calloway cut into the passing lane to intercept a pass, and finished it off with a dunk that gave Eastern a 75-74 lead with just under three minutes left.
After Calloway's jam, however, Eastern went cold the rest of the way, UMass scoring nine straight points – seven of them coming from six-foot sophomore guard Josh Lopes – before Wellington swished a desperation three as time expired. Lopes (10-of-21 FG), who also pulled down two rebounds in that run of nine points, scored 17 of his game-high 23 points and pulled down six of his team-high nine rebounds and turned the ball over only once in 16 second-half minutes.
Graduate forward Jackson Zancan followed Lopes with 19 points and eight rebounds, with senior guard Isaac Percy (11 first-half points) adding 16 points (6-of-10 FG).
Eastern got a combined 26 points off the bench from Calloway and sophomore forward Julian Sanchez (Willimantic), each accumulating career-high point totals. Calloway had 16 points (8-of-15 FG) in 26 minutes and Sanchez ten points, eight rebounds and two blocks in 20 minutes.
Wellington and 6-foot-7 inch sophomore forward Jalen Hamblin (West Hartford) sparked the second-half comeback for Eastern. In the half, Hamblin had ten points, six rebounds and two blocked shots and Wellington 12 points. Hamblin finished with 16 points, 11 rebounds and four blocks and Wellington 14 points (5-of-9 FG) and only one turnover in 20 minutes. Sophomore guard Dominick Dao (Terryville) also contributed 14 points (four three-pointers), five rebounds and four steals.
In 15 minutes off the bench, Eastern also got contributions from first-year guard Esco Greene (New Britain), who had six points (4-of-4 FT), five assists and a block without a turnover.
Eastern visits the University Southern Maine Saturday at 3 p.m. in a conference game.