PLYMOUTH, N.H. – Sophomore Brady Hulland (Amston, Conn.) poured in a career-high 18 points on 8-of-12 shooting, but Eastern Connecticut State University jumped out to a strong start and held off a late charge by Plymouth State University to top the Panthers, 74-66, in a Little East Conference (LEC) men's basketball game at Foley Gymnasium on Saturday afternoon.
 
The Warriors used an early 10-0 run to take control early, carrying a 35-23 advantage into halftime. ECSU pushed the lead to 20 midway through the second half, but the Panthers began to claw back. Plymouth State went on an 11-2 run to slice into the deficit, and Hulland's steal and basket cut the margin to 72-64 with just under a minute remaining, but that was as close as the Panthers would get.
 
The Panthers slip to 6-8 (2-3 LEC), while Eastern Connecticut improves to 10-4 (2-3 LEC).
 
 
The Basics:

• Plymouth State 66, Eastern Connecticut 74
  • Plymouth State (6-8, 2-3 LEC)
  • Eastern Connecticut (10-4, 2-3 LEC)

Top Performers:

• Plymouth State
  • Brady Hulland (18 pts, 8-12 fg, 4 reb, 1 stl)
  • Torran Bosworth (11 pts, 1 stl)
  • Asante' Aurora (10 pts, 5 reb, 2 ast, 3 stl)

How it Happened:

• Freshman Asante' Aurora (New Bedford, Mass.) opened the scoring with a three-pointer, but the Warriors responded with a 10-0 run to grab control early.
• Senior Torran Bosworth (Springfield, Mass.) drilled a triple to cut the margin to 16-11 after eight minutes.
• Eastern Connecticut pushed the lead to double digits, but sophomore Will Mollica (Stratham, N.H.) hit a bucket and free throw to pull within 30-21 with 4:11 left before halftime.
• The Warriors would stay in front, carrying a 35-23 lead into the break.
• ECSU seized control with a 12-2 run to open the second half.
• The Panthers, who recovered from double-digit deficits in each of the last two contests, began to claw back late behind a 7-0 spurt.
• Another Bosworth three-pointer helped slim the margin with two minutes left, and a Hulland steal and layup made it 72-64 a minute later, but that was as close as the Panthers would get.

By the Numbers:

• Hulland's 18 points were a career high. It was his eighth game of double-digit scoring this season.
• Aurora posted 10 points, five rebounds, three steals and two assists.
• Junior Eli Pockette (Rutland, Vt.) and freshman Evan Berkeley (Chichester, N.H.) led the way with three assists apiece.
• Mollica had three blocked shots, while junior Javari Ellison (Nashua, N.H.) added two.
• Eastern Connecticut controlled the glass by a 49-30 margin.
• The Warriors took 31 free throws to PSU's 19.

 
Up Next:

• PSU travels to UMass Boston on Wednesday (Jan. 14) for a 2 p.m. clash with the Beacons.

 
 
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