DARTMOUTH, Mass. – Sophomore
Kyler Bosse (Manchester, N.H.) and freshman
Yansel Reyes (Manchester, N.H.) combined for 35 points, but #25 University of Massachusetts Dartmouth got some revenge on Plymouth State University, earning a 91-66 win over the Panthers in a Little East Conference (LEC) men's basketball game at Tripp Athletic Center on Sunday.
In a rematch of yesterday's instant classic, UMass Dartmouth used a 16-6 run over the final 6:43 of the first half to turn a three-point game into a 45-32 lead at the break. The Panthers would trim the margin to nine early in the second half, but the hosts quickly pushed the lead back to double digits and would control play the rest of the way.
Bosse had another outstanding game for the Panthers, finishing with a team-high 19 points on 8-of-13 shooting, while adding four rebounds. Reyes dropped 16 points of his own to go with a game-high seven assists, while junior
Kevin Henry (Stratham, N.H.) chipped in 10 points (4-of-5) and three boards.
The setback snaps Plymouth State's six game winning streak to move the Panthers to 14-10 and 9-6 in the LEC. UMass Dartmouth improves to 20-3 and 12-2 in conference play.
The Basics:
- Plymouth State 66, UMass Dartmouth 91
- Plymouth State (14-10, 9-6 LEC)
- UMass Dartmouth (20-3, 12-2 LEC)
Top Performers:
How it Happened:
- Senior Devin Cooper (Newfield, N.Y.) got the Panthers off to a good start with a jump hook for a short lived 2-0 lead.
- The hosts pulled ahead, but a Reyes driving layup and Bosse's three-pointer made it a 10-9 game after six minutes of play.
- The teams went back-and-forth from there, with senior Dante Rivera (Lawrence, Mass.) draining a three from the right wing to tie the game at 24-24 with eight minutes left.
- The hosts used a 12-2 surge to pull ahead, and a pair of Corsairs' free throws gave UMass Dartmouth a 45-32 lead at the break.
- PSU used a 6-2 spurt to cut the margin to single digits, 47-38, early in the second half.
- The Corsairs slowly stretched the lead from there, not allowing Plymouth State to get any closer down the stretch.
By the Numbers:
- The Panthers outshot UMass Dartmouth from the field (47.4% - 45.5%), but the Corsairs attempted 20 more shots and made twice as many from distance (10-5).
- UMass Dartmouth controlled the offensive glass by a 17-4 margin.
- After outscoring the Corsairs' bench by a 43-7 margin yesterday, UMass Dartmouth's reserves held a 23-20 edge in bench scoring today.
- Plymouth State is assured of at least the four-seed for the upcoming LEC Tournament. Eastern Connecticut and Keene State both sit 1.5 games ahead of the Panthers, though, so with some help and a win in the season finale PSU could end up as high as second.
Up Next:
- The Panthers close out the regular season on Saturday (Feb. 19) at Rhode Island College. Tip-off is set for 3:00 p.m.
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