BOSTON, MA (November 21, 2023) – For the second consecutive game, the UMASS Boston Beacons men's basketball team is stunned by a last-second prayer off a pull-up jumper from Curry College's sophomore guard Jason Romans, to keep the Colonels undefeated in their season, as the Beacons fall to 1-3 from the Clark Gymnasium.

Tonight's game featured six ties, and four lead changes through two halves and a five-minute overtime period as the Beacons and Colonels put on a show for spectators in Clark Gymnasium. Though a total team effort, junior guard Emanuel Zayas' 26 wasn't enough to put the Beacons over the top following the Colonel's late push. Zayas' 26 was a team high, as he shot 8-15 from the field including three threes and 100% shooting from the charity stripe. Sophomore forward Erik Donaldson was the defensive anchor for the Beacons tonight, contributing a team-high four blocks to go along with nine points and five rebounds. Ish Fofana was a workhorse on the offensive end and on the defensive glass, leading the team in rebounds with 13 to pair with his 21 points, good for a double-double. Zayas served as the primary playmaker on the evening, serving out six dishes for a team-high in assists.  The Beacons bench outperformed the Colonels by a 19-point margin, along with a four-point advantage in points off turnovers (15-11).

Zayas led the Beacons to a hot start shooting nearly 40% from the field as a team in the first half, as the Beacons hit the locker room with a sizable, yet not insurmountable lead, holding firm at 28-19 ahead of the Colonels. Zayas and Joy each contributed eight points before entering the second half.

The Beacs would hold their lead, trading baskets with the colonels for the next ten minutes, as the clock bled out in the second half. The Colonels would chip the lead down to five with nearly halfway to go following a Romans steal that led to two free throws, as he knocked both down to cut the lead to four.

With one minute remaining and the Beacons up four, a steal and score plus the foul by Romans allowed the Colonels to bring the game to one. With a one-point deficit, Zayas caught Colonel's sophomore guard Tommy Mallinson reaching, as his trip to the line resulted in an ice-cold two points to bring the Beacs back up one. The Colonels earned one more chance at the line following a desperation stop by a Beacons' Carson Meczywor brought Romans to the line to ice the game. Romans went 1-2, with his second resulting in a Joy rebound Hail Mary attempt that was wide left to send the game to overtime.
OT came down to the wire, with both teams adding 14 points following four minutes and 50 seconds of overtime. One clutch bucket after another Zayas brought the Beacs from back down two to tie the game at 77 with seven seconds remaining. Romans brought the rock down from full court with a head full of steam and pulled up to cash the game-winner off the glass with time expiring to give the Beacs a heartbreaking finish to a hard-fought-out game against an undefeated squad.

The Beacons fall to 1-3 tonight, as they head home for a quick Thanksgiving break before searching for redemption against Tufts University at the Black Collegiate Coaches Classic on Saturday (November 25) from Clark Gymnasium in Boston, MA. Live stats and video coverage will be available at UMass Boston - Official Athletics Website (beaconsathletics.com).
--BEACONS--