Box Score
BOSTON, Mass. – Led by Michael-Thomas Sciro's career-best 22 points, which included going a perfect 5-for-5 from 3-point range, the 21st ranked Warriors of Eastern Connecticut State University slipped past men's basketball by the final of 83-78 Saturday afternoon in the Clark Athletic Center Gymnasium in a Little East Conference match-up.
The victory improved the Warriors overall record to 11-3, 3-0 in LEC play. For the Beacons they fell to 8-4, 0-3 in the conference following Saturday's extremely tough loss.
The Beacons led for nearly the entire afternoon, but with a pair of late runs in the second half, the Warriors were able to sneak past their conference opponent. Sciro was instrumental in the first ECSU run, which put them out in front by two following his fifth 3-pointer. That slim lead would give the Warriors all the breathing room they needed as they pushed their lead to eight scoring six straight points.
UMass did cut the Warriors' lead to two with a small run of their own, with Karl Agenor (Dorchester, Mass.) dropping in a pair of free throws, while Gregory Young (Dorchester, Mass.) drained a jumper and slammed home a huge dunk to make it 75-73 with 2:02 left in regulation.
Trachone Preston, who finished with a game-high 24 points, kick started the second ECSU run. The Warriors pushed their lead back to six, but they were quickly countered by a Mike Campbell (Boston, Mass.) three, which made it 79-76 with 59 seconds left to play.
Kevin Leumene made it a two-possession game after going 1-for-2 at the line, but with a hard fought lay-up by Agenor, the Beacons found themselves trailing by just two points, with 40 seconds left to play.
Unfortunately Sciro and Preston would combine for the final three ECSU points to secure the win, their 12th straight over the Beacons.
Preston's day consisted of 24 points and three assists, as the junior never once stepped off the floor. For the Beacons, Agenor was dominant all afternoon with his 24 points on 10-of-13 shooting, 4-for-7 at the charity stripe. The Dorchester native would also pull down a game-best 16 rebounds, 12 of which were on the defensive glass. He also managed a pair of steals, blocks, and assists in the loss.
Off the bench, Campbell posted a career-best 20 points on 9-of-15 shooting. Young, finished with 15 points and had four boards, and two steals.
On the glass the Beacons held a 34-31 advantage. The two teams were almost even from the field as ECSU shot 52.7% (29-55) from the floor, while UMass finished shooting 52.6% (30-for-57).
The biggest factor in the Warriors victory was their ability to hit the long range shot as they were red-hot all afternoon. On the day they were an impressive 10-for-18 (55.6%) from behind the arc. Preston, was just as dangerous Sciro, as he went 5-for-7 in the win.
The Beacons biggest lead of the afternoon (9 points) came in the first half on four separate occasions. However, they would head into the halftime break with a slim two-point lead over one of the top teams in the Little East.
Campbell led UMass through the first 20 minutes of play with his 11 points, while Agenor grabbed 10 boards and had eight points. Preston was the driving force that kept the score close for the Warriors, as he finished with 14 points on 5-of-10 shooting, 4-of-6 from 3-point range.
The Beacons return to action on Tuesday when they travel to Plymouth State University for a 7:30 p.m. conference game.
