Panther bench scores 60 points in non-conference loss

            NEW LONDON, N.H. – Sophomore Jourdain Bell (Manchester, N.H.) scored a career-high 33 points to lead the Colby-Sawyer College men's basketball team to a 90-82 victory over Plymouth State University on Monday night.

            The PSU bench, led by senior Jack Preston (Nashua, N.H.), exploded for 60 points in the setback.  Preston led a trio of Panther reserves in double-figures, finishing with a team-high 23 points on 9-of-13 shooting.  Freshman Jaylen Leroy (Manchester, N.H.) and junior Brian Boulay (Keene, N.H.) added 16 and 11 points off the bench.

            Plymouth State, which trailed 21-5 after the opening eight minutes, came roaring back to cut the halftime deficit to 42-38.  The second half saw extended scoring runs from both teams, but the Chargers were able to maintain a lead throughout to hold on for the win.

THE BASICS

  Coffin Field House, New London, N.H. – Mon., Nov. 28, 2016

  Plymouth State 82, Colby-Sawyer 90

  Records:

  Plymouth State 2-2; Colby-Sawyer 2-2

PSU LEADERS

  * Preston … 23 points (9-of-13) in 24 minutes, seven rebounds, two blocks

  * Leroy … 16 points, four assists

  * Boulay … 11 points, five assists, four steals

  * Junior Kieran Beck (Danvers, Mass.) … five points, team-high nine rebounds

BY THE NUMBERS

  * Plymouth State shot 46.8% (29-of-62) from the field, including 5-of-18 from long range.  The Panthers were just 19-of-30 (63.3%) from the free throw line, though.

  * The Chargers shot 46.7% (28-of-60) from the field and an impressive 81.8% (27-of-33) from the free throw line.

  * The Panther bench, highlighted by the performances of Preston, Leroy and Boulay, outscored its counterparts 60-10.

  * Colby-Sawyer held a slight edge on the boards, winning the rebounding battle 41-35.

HOW IT HAPPENED

First Half:

  * The game was scoreless for the first two minutes as each team tried to find an offensive flow.  Bell connected on a pair of free throws for the first two points of the contest before PSU broke its scoring drought 2:35 into the game with a layup from senior Curtis Arsenault (Berlin, N.H.).

  * The Chargers found their offensive rhythm over the next several minutes, using a 19-2 run to take a 21-5 lead with 12:26 left in the half.

  * Plymouth State slowly chipped away, eventually cutting the deficit to a bucket, 40-38, in the last minute of the half when Leroy hit all three free throws after being fouled beyond the arc.

  * Bell ended the half with a pair of freebies at the charity stripe to send Colby-Sawyer into the locker room in front 42-38 at the break.

Second Half:

  * The second half began with both teams exchanging hoops before Colby-Sawyer went in front by nine at 12:19 after a pair of free throws from sophomore Nate Cook (Burlington, Conn.).

  * The Panthers used a 9-2 run, capped by two free throws from Preston, to cut the deficit to three (74-71) with 4:57 to play, but that would be as close as they would get.

  * The Chargers responded with six straight points to push the lead back to nine (80-71) with 2:43 to go.

  * A three-pointer from senior Ernie Johnson (Springfield, Mass.) brought the Panthers to within four (84-80) with 1:29 left, but Colby-Sawyer was perfect from the free throw line down the stretch to secure the 90-82 victory.

NEXT UP

  Plymouth State @ Lyndon State, Lyndonville, Vt. – Thurs., Dec. 1 (5:30 p.m.)

  Colby-Sawyer @ Green Mountain, Poultney, Vt. – Wed., Nov. 30 (5:30 p.m.)

*** With contributions from Colby-Sawyer College Sports Information ***

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