MBB: Panthers nipped by UMass Boston

PLYMOUTH, N.H. – Senior Kyler Bosse (Manchester, N.H.) poured in a team-high 22 points, but the University of Massachusetts Boston held off Plymouth State University, 76-74, in a Little East Conference (LEC) men's basketball game at Foley Gymnasium on Saturday afternoon.

The Panthers carried a 41-34 lead into the locker room after draining nine first-half three-pointers. UMass Boston came out of the break hot, though, using a 12-4 surge to take the lead, 46-45, with 15 minutes to play.

The game stayed tight over the next five minutes until a 12-3 spurt pushed the Beacons' advantage to 63-54 with eight minutes to play. PSU cut the deficit to three, 67-64, with three minutes remaining on a corner three from freshman Tyler Clark-Toy (Concord, N.H.), but that was as close as the Panthers would get until Bosse swished a three at the buzzer to account for the final score.

Prior to the game, Plymouth State honored its senior class during a pregame ceremony; Bosse, Rylan Canabano (Concord, N.H.), Alex Dean (Reading, Mass.) and Christian Barr (Henniker, N.H.).

Plymouth State has its three-game winning streak snapped to move to 8-15 (4-10 LEC), while UMass Boston goes to 7-17 (6-9 LEC). PSU trails the Beacons by 1.5 games for the final playoff spot.

The Basics:

• Plymouth State 74, UMass Boston 76
  • Plymouth State (8-15, 4-10 LEC)
  • UMass Boston (7-17, 6-9 LEC)

Top Performers:

• Kyler Bosse (22 pts, 4-8 3pt, 7 reb, 4 ast)
• Ivan Yen (15 pts, 5-9 3pt, 4 reb)
• Tyler Clark-Toy (12 pts, 5-7 fg, 8 reb)

How it Happened:

• Freshman Ivan Yen (Concord, N.H.) got the Panthers out to a quick start drilling a three on the game's first possession, as PSU built a 10-2 lead through the first four minutes of action.
• UMass Boston scored eight-straight to tie the game at 10-10 after six minutes, but Bosse hit from beyond the arc to quickly put Plymouth State back in the lead.
• The game stayed nip-and-tuck over the next six minutes until sophomore Torran Bosworth (Springfield, Mass.) connected from distance and Barr's free throw gave the Panthers a 31-24 lead with 6:04 before the break.
• Bosse pulled down a defensive rebound and fired a baseball pass to freshman Jayden Montgomery (Concord, N.H.) for a fast break bucket as Plymouth State pushed the advantage to 36-28 with 2:02 on the clock.
• Yen's third triple of the first half made it 39-30 with a minute to play, but the Beacons answered with a three-ball of their own as PSU took a 41-34 lead into the break.
• Bosse scored the opening bucket of the second half, but UMass Boston followed with a 12-4 run to pull in front.
• The game went back-and-forth over the next several minutes until a 10-3 spurt found the visitors ahead, 63-54, with eight minutes to play.
• Yen hit from distance again to pull the Panthers within five, 65-60, and Clark-Toy's triple made it 67-64 with three minutes to play, but the Beacons fought right back with consecutive buckets.
• Clark-Toy got to the rim to pull within 71-66 with two minutes left, but UMass Boston was solid from the free throw line down the stretch.

By the Numbers:

• Bosse finished with 22 points and seven rebounds and drained 4-of-8 from distance.
• Yen went 5-of-9 from beyond the arc to account for all 15 of his points.
• Clark-Toy was an efficient 5-of-7 from the floor on the way to a 12-point, eight-rebound night.
• PSU finished 25-of-64 (39.1%) from the floor, while the Beacons were 24-of-54 (44.4%).
• Both teams pulled down 37 rebounds.
• PSU outscored UMass Boston in the paint, 22-18, and held an 18-11 advantage in second chance points.
• The game saw three ties and nine lead changes.
• Both games between the two teams this season were decided by two points.

Up Next:

• Plymouth State heads to Southern Maine on Wednesday (Feb. 14) for a 7:30 p.m. tip-off against the Huskies.

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