BOSTON, MA (December 3, 2025) — Facing an eight-point halftime deficit, the UMass Boston men's basketball team (3-5, 1-0 LEC) stormed back to defeat the University of Southern Maine Huskies (3-5, 0-1 LEC) in the 2025–26 Little East Conference opener at Clark Gymnasium. The Beacons were led by a combined 50 points from sophomore duo Cameron Perkins (Danbury, Conn.) and Raphel Laurent (Peabody, Mass.).
After a cold start, UMass Boston rattled off eight quick points to regain the lead early in the first half. The momentum shifted at the midway point, when the Huskies trimmed the deficit to one before taking the lead with five minutes remaining. Southern Maine maintained that advantage heading into halftime, as the Beacons shot 13-of-27 from the field and 5-of-12 from behind the arc.
Following halftime adjustments from head coach Jason Harris, UMass Boston turned up the physicality and capitalized at the free-throw line. The Beacons shot 15-of-18 at the stripe in the second half, while adding 11 field goals and five three-pointers to outscore the Huskies 42–31 after the break. UMass Boston trailed for most of the half, but reclaimed the lead with 80 seconds remaining—its first lead since the 7:08 mark of the first half.
Davon Sanders (Mansfield, Mass.) came up with a key steal that led to a fast-break score to tie the game at 70, before Laurent put the Beacons ahead with 1:22 remaining. Consecutive free throws from Perkins and Sanders sealed the victory as UMass Boston improved to 3–5 on the season and opened LEC play at 1–0.
Laurent finished with a game-high 27 points, matching his career high previously set against the Huskies during his Rookie of the Year campaign. He also added six rebounds, two blocks, and three steals. Perkins followed with an efficient 7-of-14 (50 percent) performance from the field, including two three-pointers and seven made free throws.
The sophomore duo also controlled the glass, combining for 12 of the team's 25 total rebounds (six apiece). Sanders added 10 points on a perfect 6-of-6 at the free-throw line and dished out a team-high four assists. Skyler Venezia (North Haledon, N.J.) chipped in nine points, knocking down three triples.
UMass Boston returns to LEC action Saturday at 3:00 PM in Keene, N.H., taking on the reigning conference champions, the Keene State Owls.
— LIGHT THE LANTERN —
