BOSTON, MA (November 14, 2023) – The UMASS Boston men's basketball team shines bright in their season opener against the Salve Regina University Seahawks from Clark Gymnasium in a 66-62 dogfight that came down to the wire with the Beacons ultimately able to close out late in the final moments of the game.

Junior guard and captain Emanuel Zayas along with senior guard Bobby Joy led the way offensively for the Beacs, as Zayas notched 20 points and eight assists, with Joy recording 18 points from 6-11 shooting from the field, including 4-7 from downtown. Joy, along with first-year forward Cameron Love, led the team on the glass, coming down with six rebounds each in the win. Zayas and Love were also highly active on the defensive end, notching three steals each. Sophomore guard Hector Perez hit two from downtown, each in a timely manner as the deficit was closing within the reach of the Seahawks. Perez hit his first with eight minutes remaining in the second period to give the Beacons an eight-point cushion.  Later, with just under three minutes again with the Beacons up by three, Perez struck again to bring the lead back up to six with two and a half minutes remaining in the game.

While Perez made the timely shots, Zayas led the offense fluidly, as he took control as the primary playmaker for the Beacons, setting up his teammates to get good looks from their spots.
It was an all-around team win on the night, as the Beacons moved the ball extremely well and recorded 18 assists as a team, three more than the Seahawks 15. The Beacons also were red hot from downtown tonight, as they shot 10-22 from distance as a team, good for a 45.5% three-point field goal rating.

The Beacons made most of their defensive success tonight by forcing the Seahawks to the line, as they shot 7-23 from the line, a major key in the Beacon's win on the night.

The Beacons advance to 1-1 on the season following the win in their home opener and will look to stay hot against the Colby-Sawyer College Chargers from the Dan and Kathleen Hogan Center in New London New
Hampshire on Friday at 7:00 pm. Live stats and video coverage will be available at UMass Boston - Official Athletics Website (sidearmsports.com).