BOSTON, Mass. – The UMass Boston men's basketball team saw its season come to a close Friday night, falling 75-72 to Keene State in the Little East Conference Semifinals at the Clark Athletic Center Gymnasium. The Beacons conclude the 2025-26 campaign at 16-10 overall (12-4 LEC).

In a tightly contested postseason battle featuring 11 ties and five lead changes, UMass Boston showed resilience throughout. The Beacons built an early five-point edge before the Owls carried a 40-35 advantage into halftime. Keene State extended its lead to nine early in the second half, but the Beacons steadily chipped away.

Trailing late, UMass Boston mounted a determined comeback. Cameron Perkins (Danbury, Conn.) buried a step-back jumper to knot the score at 62-62 with 4:39 to play. In the final seconds, Raphel Laurent (Peabody, Mass.) attacked the rim for a layup to trim the deficit to one, 73-72, with nine seconds remaining. Two free throws in the closing moments ultimately sealed the outcome.

Laurent delivered a standout performance, pouring in a career-high 36 points on 11-of-22 shooting while playing all 40 minutes. Davon Sanders (Mansfield, Mass.) also logged the full game, adding 14 points and three assists. Senior Connor Walden (Marshfield, Mass.) anchored the interior with 13 rebounds and three blocks.

Defensively, the Beacons were sharp after the break, holding Keene State scoreless from three-point range in the second half (0-for-6). UMass Boston also limited the Owls to 35.4 percent shooting overall. 

Though the season ended in narrow fashion, UMass Boston's fight and composure in a high-pressure semifinal underscored the growth and competitiveness of the young Beacons' squad throughout the 2025-26 campaign.

--FIND A WAY--