NEWPORT, R.I. (November 12, 2024) – The Beacons men's basketball team show signs of optimism despite a close 65-61 loss on the road to begin the 2024-25 season against the Salve Regina Seahawks on Tuesday evening. The Beacons fared well in a tight back-and-forth with the Seahawks, but fall in the final five minutes from Newport, R.I.
The Basics:
UMass Boston 61 – 65 Salve Regina
UMass Boston 0-1 (0-0 Little East Conference)
Salve Regina 1-1 (0-0 New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference, NEWMAC)
How It Happened:

• Salve won the tip and started off hot with a 10-3 run, however back-to-back three pointers from senior guard Emanuel Zayas (Hollywood, Fla.) would kickstart the Beacons' offense and bring them back to within one point (11-12). First-year forward Cam Perkins (Danbury, Conn.) was also crucial to the UMass Boston offense tonight, finishing the first half with 13 points by slashing his way to the rim, and extending his range from beyond the arc. The first half's conclusion would see the Beacons maintain an 11 point lead (45-34) over Salve. The Beacons converted 12 points off turnovers, and scored 18 points in the paint while draining seven from downtown in the first half.
• At the 17:30 mark in the second half, Perkins finished another fastbreak layup to bring the Beacons' total to 51 (51-38). Salve locked in and responded with a 13 point unanswered run by hitting two three-pointers in a row, followed by an offensive rebound tip in and a pair of free throws. From this point, the final 10 minutes was as back-and-forth as it gets. Sophomore guard Xavier McKenzie (Lowell, Mass.) stretched the lead back out by a nose through a free throw and made layup, and again with under five minutes to give the Beacons a one-point lead. The Beacons were unable to answer in the final stretch, as a pair of free throws from the Seahawks iced the Beacons on their season opener.

By the Numbers:

• The new-look Beacons' offense shouldered by Zayas, McKenzie and Perkins led the way for UMass Boston. The trio combined for 55 of the Beacons' 61 points. Perkins scored a game-high 22 on 9-15 shooting (2-4 3PT), and eight rebounds in 26 minutes. Zayas added 17 points on 6-11 shooting (5-7 3PT) and four rebounds with a team-high three assists. McKenzie contributed 16 on 6-16 (4-10 FT) with four rebounds and two steals.
• The defensive side of the Beacons forced seven turnovers, with graduate forward Mark Barrett (Brookline, Mass.), and first-year Davon Sanders (Mansfield, Mass.) joining Perkins with two steals, tied for a team-high for the Beacons. Barrett also made his presence felt on the defensive end wit height rebounds.
• The Beacons beat the Seahawks in the transition battle, outscoring them 17-14 on the breakaway.

Who's Next:

• Up next for the Beacons is Colby-Sawyer College on Friday, November 15 at 7:00 p.m in the fourth annual Black Coaches Classic from the Clark Gymnasium in Boston, Massachusetts. For more information on the event, stay tuned for the game preview featuring the BCC history, live stats and live stream links.