UMPI men drop pair

    The University of Maine at Presque Isle men’s basketball team began its season Friday and Saturday in Henniker, N.H. for the New England College Tournament. UMPI played host NEC on Friday and fell by a score of 88-84.     The Pilgrims jumped out to a 24-point lead at halftime before the Owls made an incredible comeback attempt that fell just short. Kyle Corrigan, a sophomore from Caribou, hit a layup to get UMPI to within a point with 24 seconds left on the clock, but NEC connected on three free throws in the final 11 seconds to gain the win.
    Devon Peaslee, a junior from Woolwich, had a game-high 23 points to pace UMPI’s attack. Ray Mitchell, a senior from Cleveland, Ohio, had 18 points and Chris Coffin, a junior from Presque Isle, contributed 15 points and a team-best seven rebounds.
    On Saturday, Suffolk University’s Mike Gibbons exploded for 35 points as his team downed the Owls, 103-82.
    UMPI grabbed the early lead in this one, hitting its first three shots from the field en route to a 9-2 advantage, but three consecutive three-pointers by Suffolk provided a 23-17 lead with 11:47 left in the first half. The lead ballooned to 14 at halftime, but the Owls cut the margin to 10 with nine minutes to play before the Rams took control again.
    Mitchell’s 21 points and 11 board led the UMPI squad. Ben Rosser, a sophomore from Caribou, scored 20 points and grabbed nine rebounds, while Corrigan totaled 10 points and seven assists.