WILLIMANTIC, Conn. –Sophomore guard Cedrick Similien (Norwich) had a game and career-high 20 points – 13 above his season average -- and the Eastern Connecticut State University men's basketball team had enough to hold on after racing to an early nine-point lead for a 62-54 Little East Conference victory over Plymouth State University Saturday afternoon at Francis E. Geissler Gymnasium.
It marked the fifth time that Eastern (11-4, 3-4 LEC) – the LEC leader in scoring defense (64.6) -- has held its opponent to 60 or less points. The point total was the second-lowest (by one) in a game this year for Plymouth (9-6, 3-4 LEC), which was averaging over 78 points per game. The Panthers fell to 0-4 away from home this year.
With its second conference win in three days and third in its last five LEC outings, Eastern moves into a two-way tie with Plymouth for fourth place in the conference, a game ahead of four teams which share sixth place with 2-5 records. The Warriors have beaten Plymouth six straight and 13 of the last 14 and have captured the last 16 against the Panthers at Geissler Gyn.
Similien and junior guard Dominick Dao (Thomaston) helped stake the Warriors to a nine-point lead seven minutes into action when the pair combined to score 26 (13 each) of the team's 28 first-half points.
Seven straight Plymouth points quickly cut the nine-point lead to two by the midway point of the first half and there were three ties and ten lead changes in the second half (Eastern never trailing by more than one, however) before the Warriors pulled away by scoring nine straight points in the final six minutes of the game to turn a one-point deficit into an eight-point lead with two minutes left. Sophomore forward Julian Sanchez (Willimantic) began the decisive burst when he scored inside off a pass from Dao, senior forward Sheriff Bilewu (Waterbury) added a rebound and steal, and Similien capped it to make it 55-47 by drawing the foul on an inside layup and converting the free throw.
The Warriors completed a 17-of-24 effort at the foul line by connecting on five of six in the final 27.1 seconds to ice the win, with sophomore guard Esco Greene (New Britain) canning 1 of 2 and Dao and Sanchez 2-of-2.
Eastern played the game without two starters while Plymouth was without its No. 3-leading scorer.
Behind Similien, Dao added 17 points and Sanchez 12 points and 11 rebounds – his fifth double-double of the season. Bilewu's ten rebounds were a season-high (one shy of his career-best) and helped Eastern to a +11 advantage on the board.
Senior guard Kevin Henry led Plymouth with 15 points, six rebounds and three steals, and junior guard Torran Bosworth added 14 points and three steals.
Eastern visits Rhode Island College Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. in an LEC game before returning home Saturday to host UMass Boston at 5:30 p.m. in conference play.