BOSTON, MASS. (December 26, 2024) – The Beacons men's basketball team will take advantage of the winter holiday break by traveling to Daytona Beach, Florida, on December 28 and 29 for a pair of non-conference matchups against Penn College and Husson University in the 2024 Florida Sunshine Shootout Tournament.

The Beacons face two opponents with little to no history against UMass Boston. Versus the Husson University Eagles, the Beacons are 1-0 following an 85-69 victory from Boston in 1982. Against the Penn College Wildcats, the Beacons have no recorded history, meaning the matchup on Saturday will serve as the first in program history for UMass Boston and is an opportunity for the Beacons to make a statement win against an unfamiliar opponent.

This Season:

• The Beacons are 5-2 this season (2-1 Little East Conference) with significant wins over Colby Sawyer College (87-82 OT), Fitchburg State (59-58), and Western Connecticut State (83-82). First-year forward Cameron Perkins (Danbury, Conn.) has stolen the spotlight with back-to-back conference Rookie of the Week selections on December 2 and 9. Perkins is currently leading the LEC in scoring with 25.8 points per game in six contests. On December 4, Perkins notched a career-high of 35 points in a tightly contested bout with the Rhode Island College Anchormen. Perkins also leads the effort on the glass with 7.7 rebounds per game. Sophomore guard Xavier McKenzie (Lowell, Mass.) is second on the team in scoring with 15 points per game in seven games. McKenzie notched 20 in the one-point win over Fitchburg State. Senior captain Emanuel Zayas (Hollywood, Fla.) returns to his home state of Florida averaging 13.7 PPG ahead of the weekend's tournament. Zayas is just 51 points away from hitting a career milestone, his 1,000^th career point with the Beacons. Zayas is the primary playmaker for the Beacons, generating just under four (3.7) assists per contest, good for a team-high. Zayas has also taken pride on the defensive side of the ball this season, leading the Beacons in steals with 18 in seven games (2.6 SPG). As a unit, UMass Boston averages 78.7 points per game on 44% field goal shooting, 39% beyond the three-point arc, and 63% at the charity stripe. They generate 12.1 assists and 35.1 rebounds per game, while also causing 11.4 steals and 4.1 blocks per game.
• The Penn College Wildcats are 4-5 this season, with wins against Elmira College (101-92), Penn State Brandywine (73-55), and Gallaudet (85-75). As a unit, the Wildcats are scoring 77.9 points per game on 43% FG, 31% 3PT, and 62% FT shooting figures. They pull in 40.3 rebounds, dish out 14.4 assists, and cause 7.0 steals and 3.2 blocks per game. The number one option for the Wildcats is senior guard Livingston Cross with 20.2 points per game in nine contests. On November 20 and 23, Cross notched back-to-back 20-point performances in back-to-back losses for the Wildcats. Senior guard Gavin Barrett is second on the team in scoring with 14.9 points per game in nine matchups. On December 3, Barrett scored 33 in 40 minutes against Alfred University in an 89-76 loss for the Wildcats. Barrett is the primary playmaker for the Wildcats with 6.8 assists per game, and Cross leads the effort on the glass with 13.3 rebounds per game. Sophomore guard DJ Smith III is the lead floor spacer for the Wildcats with a team-high 13 3PM in nine games played.
• The Husson University Eagles are 6-5 this season and enter the Sunshine Shootout on a four-game win streak. As a flock, the Eagles are averaging 73.9 PPG on 42.8% FG, 30% 3PT, and 74.4% FT shooting figures. They are dishing out 13 assists and raking in 38 rebounds per game, and force 9.4 steals and 2.5 blocks per game. The Eagles have two players scoring more than 12 PPG. Senior guard Riles Neff leads all scorers with 16.9 PPG in nine games played. His most recent performance against Fort Kent Maine, Neff dropped a season-high 29 points in 36 minutes on 12-19 shooting. Fifth-year guard Jeremy Moronta is second on the team in scoring with 12.1 PPG. On November 20, Moronta dropped a season-high 27 points in 38 minutes on 8-14 shooting against Bates College. Moronta serves as the primary glass cleaner with 7.4 rebounds per game, and Neff serves as the primary playmaker, leading the team in assists.

Tune In:

• The Florida Sunshine Shootout Tournament will be available to view via FloCollege at the link HERE
• To follow along for free with live stat coverage, follow the link HERE

For all things UMass Boston Athletics, stay tuned at UMass Boston - Official Athletics Website.