KEENE, N.H. (February 8, 2025)—The UMass Boston men's basketball team (11-10, 6-7 Little East Conference) scored 87 points, their sixth game in which they have scored that many points this season, against the NCAA Division III 22 seeded team in the country, the Keene State Owls (18-3, 12-0 LEC) in a valiant effort on the road.

Sophomore guard Xavier McKenzie (Lowell, Mass.) scored an efficient 28 points on 11-16 (68%), including three makes from beyond the arch in 33 minutes of action to lead the Beacons in scoring.

How it Happened:

First Half:

• Following two offensive rebounds, junior forward Tyler Victor (Brockton, Mass.) found twine to score the game's first basket with an offensive tip-in layup.
• The Owls started hot, but an Emanuel Zayas' (Hollywood, Fla.) steal led to a transition three-pointer from McKenzie, his first of the game, to keep UMass Boston within two points in the early goings.
• After trailing by 13 with under ten minutes, McKenzie's second trey, followed by a Victor layup, cut the lead back to a palpable four points.
• In the remaining six minutes, Zayas scored five points, followed by a McKenzie driving layup to close out the half, with the Beacs trailing by 15 at the horn.
• McKenzie scored 18 of his 28 in the first half to guide the ship for the Beacs.

Second Half:

• Graduate forward Mark Barrett (Brookline, Mass.) found first-year guard Raphel Laurent from downtown to open the second half.
• Junior Carson Meczywor (Adams, Mass.) closed out the game's final basket for the Beacons with a catch-and-shoot triple, his third of the season, off the dime from sophomore guard Fidendi Francois (Somerville, Mass.).
• UMass Boston scored 48 points in the second half while shooting 46% (14-30) from the field, including 5-7 from downtown, and 75% (15-20) from the free throw line. The Beacons put up a good battle, notching 87 points for the sixth time of the season, but ultimately fell short against one of the nation's best squads in DIII.

By the Box

• McKenzie, Laurent, and Victor combined for 54 of the Beacons 87 points, with Laurent scoring 15 and Victor finishing with 11 to support McKenzie's 28.
• First-year guard Davon Sanders (Mansfield, Mass.) was a perfect 6-6 from the line to contribute nine points.
• Victor led the team's rebounding efforts with three offensive and two defensive. Victor led a team effort that saw 11 student-athletes grab one or more rebounds.
• Barrett was a primary point forward, leading the team with four assists out of the Beacons' 12 total.
• Zayas notched eight points, three assists, four rebounds, and a team-high four steals, good for half of the team's defensive output.
• The team shot 42% from the field, including 42.1% from downtown in the effort.

The Beacons will remain on the road with three games left in the LEC regular season, returning to play on Wednesday, February 12, against the LEC fifth-seeded UMass Dartmouth Corsairs (8-13, 5-7 LEC) in Dartmouth, MA at 7:00 p.m.