Zachary Mickle/Men's Basketball | University of Maine at Farmington
Zachary Mickle/Men's Basketball | University of Maine at Farmington
The University of Maine at Farmington men's basketball team took the court for the first time since December 8th, a three week layoff, taking on the Wesleyan University Cardinals on Friday afternoon in the first round of the four team Naismith Classic hosted by Springfield College. The Cardinals took home the victory, beating the Beavers 73-62 to advance to tomorrow afternoon's Championship game against Springfield.
The Beavers were able to jump out to a quick 7-5 lead in the first three minutes of the contest, but the Cardinals would use a 17-2 run to take a 13 points lead with 11 minutes left to play in the first half. Highlighted by a pair of threes from Zachary Mickle (Billerica, Mass.) and Terion Moss (Portland, Maine), the Beavers went on a quick 8-2 spurt to cut the deficit to just 7.
The Cardinals once again responded, this time with a 12-4 run led by threes from Gabe Ravetz and Nicky Johnson to take a 36-21 lead with two minutes to play in the half. Moss hit a big three in the final minute of the half to pull the Beavers within 12 at the break.
The Beavers came out of the half on fire, converting on four of their first six shot attempts. Jack Kane (Cumberland, Maine) hit two layups and added a thunderous dunk to lead the Beavers on an 8-0 run out of the half and cut the deficit to just four.
After another Moss 3-pointer cut the Cardinal lead to 39-35, the Cardinals once again went on a spurt to push their lead back up to double-digits at 49-39 with 12 minutes left to play.
The teams traded baskets up until the 6:17 mark of the second half when trailing by nine, Mickle hit another big three to pull the Beavers within six. After a Moss free throw and a Nathan Poulin (Williamstown, Vermont), the Beaver were within two with 4:30 left to play. Shackylle Dezonie split a pair of free throws for the Cardinals and Kyle Donlin (Warren, Maine) converted a layup to pull the Beavers within a point at 63-62 with 3:51 left to play.
The Cardinals would close the game on a 10-0 run as the Beavers struggled to shoot, going 0-5 from the field.
Moss scored a game-high 19 points and added six rebounds and four assists to lead Farmington. Kane pitched in 14 points, eight rebounds and three blocks.
The Cardinals had four in double figures, led by Preston Maccoux's 16 points and 10 rebounds. Johnson and Ravetz each added 11, while Jared Langs pitched in 10.
The Beavers fall to 4-4 on the season as the Cardinals improve to 4-5.
Original source can be found here
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