BOSTON, MA (November 15, 2024) – The UMass Boston men's basketball team went the distance on Friday evening against the Colby-Sawyer Chargers, and ultimately earned their first win of the season following a 87-82 overtime dogfight from the Clark Gymnasium in Boston, Mass.
The Basics:
UMass Boston 87 – 82 Colby-Sawyer College
UMass Boston 1-1
Colby-Sawyer College 1-2
How it Happened:

• Senior guard Emanuel Zayas (Hollywood, Fla.) and graduate forward Mark Barret opened up scoring for the Beacons with back-to-back three pointers, setting the tone for an exciting game from the Clark Athletic Center. The Chargers jumped out early, but first-year guard Davon Sanders (Mansfield, Mass.) connected from deep range to bring the game back to a 13-13 stalemate. Back and forth the two teams battled in the first half through a tightly contested matchup, until the Beacons were able to string together multiple defensive stops to gain a nine point lead with two minutes remaining in the first. First year guard Raphel Laurent (Peabody, Mass.) recorded his first three pointer donning the Beacons threads to stretch the lead. Sophomore guard Xavier McKenzie (Lowell, Mass.) converted an and-one layup to tie the bow on the first half with the Beacons leading by four. At the end of the first, the Beacons outscored the chargers in transition 11-9, and the bench unit outscored the Chargers' second unit 12-10.
• The second half was opened with a McKenzie fastbreak layup. Five minutes into the second half, the Chargers brought scoring back level at 46 a piece. The Beacons were firing on all cylinders, but the Chargers would not bow out without a fight. The score would creep three or four points in favor of the Beacons by way of paint domination, charity stripe free throws, and deep range jumpers, but the Chargers battled back to level scoring on nine different occasions in the second half. The Chargers held a two point lead with under two minutes left, first-year forward Cameron Perkins (Danbury, Conn.) used his size and strength to establish good positioning for a baby-hook in the paint to tie the game at 72. After 40 minutes of hoops at the Clark gymnasium, the Chargers were up one with five seconds left, before Laurent hit one-of-two free throws to give the Beacons a chance in overtime.
• Perkins opened OT with a pair of good free throws to provide UMass Boston with a crucial early lead. Coach Harris continued to call upon the true-freshman, as Perkins was able to go back-and-forth with the Chargers by himself. His free throws were followed by a good layup, and a successful offensive rebound tip-in. His tip-in gave the Beacons just a one-point cushion with 26 seconds left in OT. Zayas and Barrett would ice the game from the free throw line. The Beacs conclude their home opener in thrilling fashion for their first win of 2024 in a hard fought battle.

By the Numbers:

• Perkins scored a game-high 25 points, a career-high for the forward out of Danbury, Connecticut. He was an efficient 10-13 from the field including one three pointer and four free throws. Just behind Perkins was Zayas with 22 points on 7-15 (4-7 3PT) shooting, to go along with five assists, six rebounds and a team-high three steals. Barrett was a skyscraper amongst the trees tonight, pulling in a game-high eight rebounds to go along with 12 points including two three-pointers (2-4 3PT), two steals and a block. Sanders, in his first collegiate game recorded five points (2-4 FG, 1-2 3PT) and three steals, tied with Zayas for a team-high.

Who's Next:

• The Beacons are back on the road next Tuesday, as the take on the Falcons of Fitchburg State College at 7:00 p.m. from Fitchburg, Mass. The game preview that sets the stage will be available on Monday. For live stats and video coverage, stay tuned here.