GORHAM, Maine - In his first start of the season, junior guard Bobby Joy led the way for UMass Boston Men's Basketball, helping them erase a halftime deficit with a game-best and career-high 25 points in the 66-60 Little East Conference victory over the University of Southern Maine at Hill Gym on Wednesday night.
 
THE BASICS
 
UMass Boston 66, Southern Maine 60
 
UMass Boston (13-4, 6-2 LEC)

Southern Maine (10-7, 4-4 LEC)
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
 
An unusually low scoring night for both teams started fittingly, with the Beacons and the Huskies holding each other without a score for the opening 2:46 of play. The first points of the game also came in fitting fashion as Joy nailed his first of three three pointers on the evening to open scoring.
 
In his first start of the season, the junior outdid his previous career-best on 17 points, posting a 25-point performance against the Huskies. Off the bench, Joy has been efficient in his shooting and the result was no different as a start. In the game, Joy went 7-for-13 from the field, 3-for-4 from three, and 8-for-9 from the free throw line.
 
In the first half, however, it was senior forward Malik Lorquet who led the way with 11 points and six rebounds. The team's leading scorer finished with 18 points and 13 rebounds, good for his 14th double-double in 17 games this season. 
 
Despite the best efforts of Lorquet and Joy, the Beacons trailed 29-27 at halftime. 
 
The Huskies came out of halftime without missing a beat, at one point extending the lead to 44-37. A three-pointer and a layup from Joy quickly cut the lead down to two. A layup from Lorquet tied the game at 44 all with 10:21 to play.
 
Southern Maine refused to go away. A three-pointer from the Huskies gave them the lead back with just over four minutes to play, 53-52. Senior guard Mariano Olivier-Rodriguez quickly responded with a pull up jumper that swung the lead back in the Beacons' favor, 54-53. UMass Boston would not surrender the lead again.
 
Bobby Joy made six straight free throws inside of the final two minutes to ice the game for the Beacons, who went on to win their sixth Little East Conference game of the season by a final score of 66-60.
 
BY THE NUMBERS

• With another 13 rebounds added to his career total, Malik Lorquet sits just 49 shy of the program record 788 set by Terry Kennedy
• Lorquet's 14 double-doubles are tied for the second most in NCAA DIII this season
• The Beacons outscored the Huskies in points off turnovers (25-17) and second chance points (12-6)
• UMass Boston has won nine of their last ten matchups with Southern Maine, including three in a row 

 
WHO'S NEXT
 
The Beacons will play one more road game before returning home, traveling to Willimantic, Connecticut to take on Eastern Connecticut State University in an LEC matchup this Saturday at 3:00 PM. Earlier this year at home, UMass Boston won a wire-to-wire game over the Warriors, 67-58, and never trailed after the opening four minutes.