PLYMOUTH, N.H. – Sophomore Will Mollica (Stratham, N.H.) scored in the paint to tie the game with 1:39 remaining, but the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth escaped Foley Gymnasium with a 74-72 victory over Plymouth State University in a Little East Conference (LEC) men's basketball contest on Saturday afternoon.
 
The Corsairs jumped out to an early advantage, building a 31-17 lead with seven minutes remaining in the opening half. Plymouth State surged back, however, using three-pointers from senior Torran Bosworth (Springfield, Mass.) and sophomore Brady Hulland (Amston, Conn.) to spark a 17-7 run that cut the deficit to 38-34 at halftime.
 
UMass Dartmouth maintained a slight edge throughout the second half, though the Panthers remained within striking distance. Mollica converted in the paint to knot the score at 65-65 with 2:34 left, and after the Corsairs answered at the other end, his layup again tied the game at 67-67 with 1:39 remaining.
 
UMD went ahead for good on the ensuing possession, hitting a pair of free throws before adding two more from the charity stripe following a technical foul. The Corsairs forced a turnover with 30 seconds to play and converted two additional free throws to extend the lead to six. Hulland drilled a three-pointer to pull the Panthers within 74-72, but time expired on the play to seal the Corsairs' win.
 
Senior Yansel Reyes (Manchester, N.H.) led all scorers with 22 points, while Hulland added 17 points and six rebounds.
 
Plymouth State falls to 6-15 (2-10 LEC), while the Corsairs improve to 11-10 (5-7 LEC).
 
 
The Basics:

• Plymouth State 72, UMass Dartmouth 74
  • Plymouth State (6-15, 2-10 LEC)
  • UMass Dartmouth (11-10, 5-7 LEC)

Top Performers:

• Plymouth State
  • Yansel Reyes (22 pts, 3 ast, 2 stl)
  • Brady Hulland (17 pts, 3-7 3pt, 4 reb, 2 ast, 3 stl)
  • Torran Bosworth (9 pts, 3 reb, 3 ast)
  • Keegan Martinez (6 pts, 10 reb, 3 stl)

How it Happened:

• UMass Dartmouth opened the game on a 14-5 run over the first six minutes.
• The Corsairs pushed the lead to 31-17 with less than seven minutes remaining in the first half.
• Bosworth and Hulland combined for 11 points in a 17-7 run to close the half, each hitting from beyond the arc, while Reyes' layup cut the deficit to 38-34 at halftime.
• Reyes drilled a pair of three-pointers to bring PSU within one, 45-44, four minutes into the second half.
• The Corsairs responded with an 8-0 spurt to go up nine, but the Panthers countered with a 9-2 run to make it 55-53 with 11:24 remaining.
• Plymouth State pulled within one on a Reyes bucket a minute later, but the visitors scored the next five points to maintain a slim edge.
• The Panthers stayed within striking distance and finally tied the game at 65-65 on Mollica's basket with 2:34 remaining.
• UMass Dartmouth capitalized on a technical foul to moved ahead from the free throw line, 71-67, with 1:25 left.
• The Corsairs sealed the game at the line, as Hulland's buzzer-beating three accounted for the 74-72 final.

By the Numbers:

• Reyes and Hulland each connected three times from distance.
• Freshman Keegan Martinez (Belmont, N.H.) snagged a team-high 10 rebounds.
• Hulland's 17 points were one shy of his career high.
• Plymouth State held a 45-41 advantage on the glass.
• The Panthers shot 25-for-70 (35.7%) from the floor, hit nine three-pointers, and went 13-for-17 (76.5%) from the free throw line.
• UMass Dartmouth went 25-for-58 (43.1%) from the field, made seven threes, and went 17-for-32 (53.1%) at the line.
• The Corsairs held a 34-26 edge in points in the paint.
• PSU's bench outscored the UMass Dartmouth reserves, 29-26.
• Plymouth State registered 13 assists on 25 made field goals.

   
Up Next:

• Plymouth State heads to Southern Maine on Wednesday (Feb. 11) for a 7:30 p.m. matchup with the Huskies.

 
 
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