BOSTON, MA (February 14, 2024)— Sophomore forward Connor Walden and junior guard Emanuel Zayas shouldered the Beacons' offensive duties against the Vermont State University Castleton Spartans in their regular season finale from Castleton, Vermont as the Spartans knocked off the Beacons in their final game of the season.

Walden led the way with 24 points on 50% shooting from beyond the arc (3-6). Walden also contributed a team-high eight rebounds in the loss, as Zayas' 17 points off five deep-range heaves along with a team-high six assists was not enough to put the Beacons over the top.

Sophomore forward Erik Donaldson won the tip for the Beacs, as sophomore guard Carson Meczywor came up empty on the first possession following a three pointer just off the mark. Walden was able to get the ball rolling for the Beacs with a layup in the paint following missed possessions from Meczywor and the Spartans' Joe Russel. With four minutes expired, the Beacons strung together a 9-2 run capped off by a Walden jumper in the midrange. Walden would connect on the following possession, this time from deep-range to further stretch the Beacons' shadow over the Spartans to an eight-point lead in the embers of the first half. The Beacons remained in the driver's seat for the first half, as they kept their foot on the pedal following their early run. Senior guard Bobby Joy connected on a three-pointer to give UMass Boston a nine-point cushion with 10 minutes remaining. With the second leg of the first half underway, Walden and Zayas began to heat up, with Zayas finding success from beyond-the-arc on back-to-back possessions followed up by Walden who matched the range to quickly jump out to a 16-point lead with seven minutes remaining. The Spartans couldn't find an answer for Zayas, as he would connect again to give the Beacs their largest lead of the game at 19 points with six minutes remaining. The Spartans would end the half on a layup that would cut into the deficit to bring VTSU to within ten going into the half.

The second half was opened from a mid-range jumper off a Walden pick-and-pop. A pair of free throws, along with a fastbreak layup and three pointer quickly saw the Beacons on their heels, as their comfortable lead had disappeared into a four-point threat. Walden would have his way in the paint, as his layup was good with the foul for a three-point play opportunity tht put the Beacons back up by seven. Both teams would go back and forth throwing blows, but the Beacons would fail to pull away like they did in the first half. With just ten minutes remaining in their season, the Beacs led by five following a Spartans' layup. VTSU was able to bring things even with seven minutes remaining following a layup and three-pointer by Justin Schwarzbeck. Leonard Brice followed this up by increasing the Spartans' lead with an and-one layup, but the Beacons on their backs by three points. The Spartans ran away with the lead from this point on, as they finished the game out on an 18 to 24 run to hand the Beacons the road loss on their final game of the regular season. 

The UMass Boston men's basketball team conclude their regular season with an overall record of 7-18, maintaining a Little East Conference record of 6-10. The Beacs secure the LEC six seed for the playoffs as they take on the LEC three seeded Corsairs of UMass Dartmouth in the another UMass classic on Tuesday, February 20^th from Dartmouth Massachusetts. Live stats and video coverage can be found at UMass Boston - Official Athletics Website (sidearmsports.com).
--BEACONS--