CASTINE, Maine – Seniors Manny Alisandro (Manchester, N.H.) and Devin Cooper (Newfield, N.Y.) posted huge double-doubles and five different players scored in double figures as the Plymouth State University men's basketball team coasted to a convincing win over Maine Maritime Academy, 86-60, in a non-conference game at Margaret Chase Smith Gymnasium on Thursday night.
 
Alisandro and Cooper each finished with 15 points, while seniors Dante Rivera (Lawrence, Mass.) scored 15 points of his own, shooting 50% from the floor. PSU controlled the boards by a 57-20 margin, with Alisandro pulling down 16, including 10 on the offensive glass, and Cooper adding 14.
 
The Panthers scored the first three points of the contest and never gave away the lead, securing a fourth straight win.
 
Plymouth State improves to 4-1 on the season, while the Mariners fall to 1-4.
 
The Basics:

• Plymouth State 86, Maine Maritime 60
  • Plymouth State (4-1)
  • Maine Maritime (1-4)

Top Performers:

• Plymouth State
  • Manny Alisandro (15 pts, 16 reb, 6-12 fg, 3-3 ft)
  • Devin Cooper (15 pts, 14 reb, 7-12 fg)
  • Dante Rivera (15 pts, 3-5 3pt, 6-12 fg, 5 ast)
  • Yansel Reyes (13 pts)
  • Kyler Bosse (12 pts)

How it Happened:

• The Panthers scored on their first possession when freshman Yansel Reyes (Manchester, N.H.) hit from beyond the arc, taking the lead 3-0.
• The Mariners cut the lead to 6-5 with a made three of their own with 17:46 left in the first half.
• PSU answered with a pair of thundering dunks from Cooper as part of a 12-3 run as the Panthers took control.
• The Panthers continued to score, extending the lead to 17 points at halftime, 44-27.
• Reyes drilled a triple to push the advantage to 20, 51-31, in the opening minutes of the second half, but the Mariners responded and three straight triples on consecutive possessions trimmed the lead to single digits.
• PSU responded with a 14-1 surge and the Panthers would lead by more than 20 the rest of the way.

By the Numbers:

• The Panthers went 35-of-77 (45.5%) from the floor and 8-of-22 (36.4%) from three.
• PSU outrebounded Maine Maritime 57-20, including 22-3 on the offensive glass.
• The Panthers won the second chance point battle, 16-4.
• Points in the paint were in favor of the Panthers, 50-22.
• PSU is averaging over 80 points and 40 rebounds per game.
• This was the first meeting between the two teams since the 1985-86 season.

 
Up Next:

• The Panthers travel to Henniker, N.H. for a Saturday matinee with New England College. Tip-off is set for 4:00 p.m.