WILLIMANTIC, Conn. – The Plymouth State University men's basketball team fell to the Eastern Connecticut State University Warriors, 80-66, in a Little East Conference (LEC) matchup Wednesday night.
The Warriors scored the first basket of the game and did not look back, maintaining a lead throughout the game at the Frances E. Geissler Gymnasium.
Senior
Devin Cooper (Newfield, N.Y.) led the Panthers with 14 points, while junior
Giorgi Tsiklauri (Brooklyn, N.Y.) scored 13 points of his own in the losing effort. Senior
Gerald Fleming (Tampa, Fla.) was also able to score in double figures with 10 points.
Plymouth State falls to 7-5 (2-2 LEC) on the season, while the Warriors improve to 8-4 (3-1 LEC).
The Basics:
- Plymouth State 66, Eastern Connecticut 80
- Plymouth State (7-5, 2-2 LEC)
- Eastern Connecticut (8-4, 3-1 LEC)
Top Performers:
How it Happened:
- The Warriors jumped out to an early ten-point lead (14-4) with 15:39 in the opening half.
- After trading buckets, PSU used a late 9-1 run to cut the lead to two (35-33) with 2:02 remaining until halftime.
- Eastern Connecticut responded after a timeout, scoring five straight points to gain a 40-33 advantage.
- Tsiklauri scored the final two points of the half from the free throw line, leading the Panthers into the locker room with a five-point deficit (40-35).
- The Warriors regained their ten-point lead (52-42) to start the second half with 12:16 to go in the contest.
- Eastern Connecticut extended its advantage to 16 (67-51) with 5:51 left in the second half.
- The Panthers were able to cut the deficit back to ten with 2:10 to play, but that was as close as PSU would come in the end.
By the Numbers:
- The Panthers shot 25-of-57 (43.9%) from the floor and 6-of-18 (33.3%) from three.
- ECSU outrebounded Plymouth State 34-27, and 10-8 on the offensive glass.
- The Warriors led from start to finish.
- Plymouth State went 10-of-13 (76.9%) from the free throw line.
- Points off the bench went in the Warrior's favor, 22-16.
- Senior Dante Rivera (Lawrence, Mass.) tallied seven points and is now just four points shy of 1,000 for his career.
Up Next:
- The Panthers travel to LEC opponent University of Massachusetts Boston on Saturday afternoon (Jan. 8). Tip-off is set for 3:00 p.m. at the Clark Athletic Center.
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