BIDDEFORD, Maine – Senior
Dante Rivera (Lawrence, Mass.) scored a game-high 19 points and Plymouth State University held off a late run by the University of New England to pick up a non-conference win, 81-74, in men's basketball action at Coach Beaudry's Court on Saturday night.
Plymouth State shot nearly 50% from the field in the first half while limiting UNE to just 10-of-30 to build a 39-27 lead at the break. The Panthers extended the advantage to a game-high 19 (51-32) on Rivera's layup 4:22 into the second half, but the hosts caught fire from deep to mount a furious comeback.
UNE used a 29-13 run, shooting 6-of-10 from distance, to trim the margin to 62-61 with 7:21 remaining, but Rivera hit a pair of key baskets and sophomore
Kevin Henry (Stratham, N.H.) had ten points down the stretch, including a clutch three-point play in the final minute, as PSU held on for the win.
Plymouth State picks up a third straight win to move to 3-1, while UNE falls to 0-3.
The Basics:
- Plymouth State 81, UNE 74
- Plymouth State (3-1)
- UNE (0-3)
Top Performers:
How it Happened:
- Rivera, senior Devin Cooper (Newfield, N.Y.) and sophomore Kyler Bosse (Manchester, N.H.) provided the bulk of the PSU offense through the first half, combining for 24 points.
- Plymouth State limited the Nor'easters to 10-of-30 from the floor to take a 39-27 lead into halftime.
- Bosse nailed a jumper in the paint and Henry's steal led to a Fastbreak layup for Rivera as the Panthers took a commanding 51-32 lead after 4:22 of action in the second half.
- UNE slowly began to chip away, cutting the deficit to 59-49 on a three-pointer midway through the half and the Nor'easters nailed three more from distance, including a rare four-point play, to make it a one-point game, 62-61, with 7:21 remaining.
- Rivera kept the Panthers in front with driving layups on back-to-back possessions, before Henry converted an old-fashioned three-point play and moments later a pair of Henry free throws pushed the lead back to 73-63 with three minutes to go and PSU would stay in front by at least four points the rest of the way.
By the Numbers:
- The Panthers were an incredible 17-of-28 (60.7%) from the floor in the second half despite not hitting from distance and finished the night 31-of-57 (54.4%) from the field.
- The Nor'easters were 27-of-62 but nailed 12 threes to get back into the game.
- UNE held a narrow edge on the boards, 33-30.
- Junior Giorgi Tsiklauri (Brooklyn, N.Y.) and Bosse were especially efficient off the bench. Tsiklauri went 5-of-7 for 13 points in 13 minutes, while Bosse was 6-of-9 for 12 points in 13 minutes of action.
Up Next:
- Plymouth State visits Maine Maritime Academy on Thursday (Nov. 18) for a 6:00 p.m. contest.
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