MBB: Bosse moves into ninth as USM pulls away in second half

GORHAM, Maine – Senior Kyler Bosse (Manchester, N.H.) poured in a game-high 27 points and moved into ninth on the Plymouth State University men's basketball all-time scoring list, but the University of Southern Maine road a 17-4 surge to open the second half to top the Panthers, 83-62, in a Little East Conference (LEC) game at Warren G. Hill Gymnasium on Wednesday night.

Plymouth State trailed by as many as eight in the first half, but the Panthers used a 14-5 run to pull ahead with 7:36 left before the break. The game went back-and-forth over the next five minutes until Bosse netted six straight PSU points for a 37-32 lead. USM rallied back, using a three-pointer in the final minute to knot the score at 39-39 heading into the break.

The Huskies scored the first six points of the second half to ignite the game-altering run and take the lead for good. Plymouth State was unable to recover as the hosts went on to the win.

With his outburst, Bosse continues to climb the Panthers' all-time scoring leaders list. His 1,291 points are now the ninth-most in program history.

The setback officially ends PSU's late-season playoff push as Plymouth State dips to 8-16 (4-11 LEC). Southern Maine improves to 13-11 (8-7 LEC).

The Basics:

• Plymouth State 62, Southern Maine 83
  • Plymouth State (8-16, 4-11 LEC)
  • Southern Maine (13-11, 8-7 LEC)

Top Performers:

• Kyler Bosse (27 pts, 13-30 fg, 9 reb, 3 ast)
• Christian Barr (7 pts, 2 reb, 3 stl)
• Riley Marsh (6 pts, 3-4 fg, 2 reb, 2 stl)

How it Happened:

• Bosse got out to an early start with a pair of buckets and senior Christian Barr (Henniker, N.H.) got to the rim for a quick 6-0 lead.
• The Huskies answered back to take a 19-11 lead with 12:29 left on the clock.
• Plymouth State chipped away and freshman Jayden Montgomery (Nashua, N.H.) and sophomore Torran Bosworth (Springfield, Mass.) connected from beyond the arc to put the Panthers back in front, 25-24, with 7:36 remaining in the half.
• The teams traded baskets until Bosse connected for six straight points as PSU led 37-32 with less than three minutes before the break.
• USM closed the half with a flurry, using a three-pointer in the final half-minute to tie the game at 39-39.
• The hosts burst out of the gates to start the second half, using a 13-2 spurt to grab a double-digit lead.
• Southern Maine continued to extend the margin. Sophomore Riley Marsh (Gilford, N.H.) got to the rim on consecutive possessions to make it a 15-point game, 66-51, but the Huskies would remain comfortably in front.
• Bosse converted an old-fashioned three-point play with two minutes remaining to move into a tie for ninth on the all-time scoring list before taking sole possession of the spot with a jumper in the final seconds.

By the Numbers:

• Bosse nearly missed a double-double with 27 points and nine rebounds. He added three assists.
• Barr chipped in seven points, three steals and two boards, with Marsh and junior Kevin Newton-Delgado (Hopkinton, N.H.) added six points apiece.
• Plymouth State shot 36.6% (26-of-71) for the game but went cold from deep (0-6) in the second half. The Huskies shot nearly 60% from the floor.
• USM held a narrow 38-35 edge on the glass, though the Panthers controlled the offensive boards by a 15-6 margin.
• PSU came away with 13 steals and outscored the Huskies 20-13 in points off turnovers.
• Plymouth State owned a 13-3 advantage in second chance points.
• Southern Maine swept the season series for the second straight year.

Up Next:

• Plymouth State closes out the season on Saturday (Feb. 17) with a trip to Eastern Connecticut State. Tip-off is set for 1:00 p.m.

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