BOSTON, Mass. (January 31, 2026) — Behind a combined 64 points from its top three scorers — Davon Sanders (Mansfield, Mass.) and Raphel Laurent (Peabody, Mass.) with 20 apiece, and Cameron Perkins (Danbury, Conn.) with a game-high 24 — the UMass Boston men's basketball team (13–7, 9–2 LEC) held off Eastern Connecticut State University (11–7, 6–6 LEC), 81–71, Saturday evening in Little East Conference action at the Clark Athletic Center.
Five Beacons finished with eight or more points, led by Perkins' 24-point effort. The junior added seven rebounds, two assists, and a block while playing a team-high 35 minutes. Sanders did much of his damage at the charity stripe, converting 12-of-13 free throws, while Laurent scored efficiently in the paint and pulled down five rebounds. Connor Walden (Malden, Mass.) rounded out the top contributors with eight points and a game-high eight rebounds, anchoring UMass Boston's interior presence on both ends.
UMass Boston set the tone early, opening the contest on a 6–0 run capped by a Walden tip-in just over a minute into play. Eastern Connecticut responded with timely perimeter shooting to keep pace, but the Beacons consistently had an answer. Perkins knocked down a pair of first-half three-pointers, including one at the 13:49 mark that pushed the lead to 13–5, and UMass Boston maintained control through much of the opening half despite several Warrior runs.
Eastern Connecticut trimmed the deficit to four multiple times late in the first half, but the Beacons closed strong. Perkins scored five points in the final two minutes, including a layup in the final 30 seconds, as UMass Boston carried a 44–40 advantage into the halftime break.
The Warriors opened the second half with renewed energy, pulling within two on a jumper by Drew Soltis at the 19:40 mark, but UMass Boston quickly reasserted itself. Sanders sparked an 8–0 stretch with a three-pointer and a trio of free throws, helping the Beacons build their largest lead of the night at 66–52 with 11:22 remaining.
Eastern Connecticut refused to go away, cutting the margin to as few as three with just over eight minutes to play, but UMass Boston remained composed down the stretch. Perkins converted a fast-break layup, and Laurent followed with a tip-in and a free throw to restore breathing room. The Beacons sealed the game at the line, shooting 79.3 percent from the stripe (23-of-29).
UMass Boston finished the night shooting 44.1 percent from the field and held a 38–35 edge on the glass, while committing just eight turnovers. Steven Cordero (Everett, Mass.) added nine points and three assists off the bench, and the Beacons' defense came up with timely stops late to preserve the double-digit victory.
The Beacons return to action on Wednesday, Feb. 4, traveling to Western Connecticut State University at 7:00 p.m. in Danbury, Connecticut.
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