Owl men’s hoop team splits games
in Star City Classic
PRESQUE ISLE — Claude Louis, a junior from Union, N.J., scored 21 points and recorded four steals in his UM-Presque Isle men’s basketball debut to lead the Owls to a 74-38 home win over Maine Maritime Academy Friday as part of the Star City Classic.
The two teams faced off to begin last season in Castine, where the Owls were also victorious, 45-32.
On Friday, the Owls displayed a high octane offense that features their top four scorers from a year ago. Last season’s point leader, senior Patrick Manifold of Great Yarmouth, United Kingdom, ate up Mariner defenders in the paint en route to a 15-point, eight-rebound performance.
Michael Warner, a junior from Norwich, UK, completed a trio of UMPI scorers that finished in double figures by tallying 12 points.
Early on, the two teams felt each other out with UMPI able to repeatedly take a small lead, only to see the Mariners battle back. Finally the Owls forged some breathing room with seven minutes remaining in the half.
After taking 14 minutes to score their first 17 points of the half, the Owls scored their next 17 over the final six, stretching a 17-16 lead into a 34-20 halftime advantage. Louis scored 10 points during the decisive run.
Not even halftime could slow down the home team’s momentum. The inside-outside attack of Manifold and Louis resulted in a 10-2 run to begin the second half and put things out of reach for MMA.
No Mariner reached double figures as the team was led by Caleb MacDonald’s eight points off the bench.
On Sunday, UMPI lost to the University of Southern Maine, 87-48, as Alex Kee scored 24 points, including a 10-for-10 effort from the foul line, to lead the Huskies.
Manifold led the Owls with 16 points and a game-high 13 rebounds. Senior guard Gerardo Vasquez of Houston, Texas chipped in with eight points, while Louis added seven points and seven rebounds.
The Owls committed 21 turnovers in the game,.
UMPI will next host Southern Maine Community College Sunday at 2 p.m.
