The University of Maine at Presque Isle men’s basketball team split its games in the Colby Invitational Tournament, held in Waterville Friday and Saturday.
The Owls opened the tourney with a 74-63 loss to Daniel Webster College Friday evening. UMPI had led 29-21 with 8:03 to play in the first half before the opponents reeled off 20 unanswered points and never looked back.
Claude Louis netted 20 points and grabbed nine rebounds to lead UMPI. Aaron Hutchins had 13 points and Michael Warner 10 more for the Owls.
The following afternoon, UMPI scored the game’s final six points and held Fisher College scoreless over the final 3:32 to come away with a 61-59 win in the tournament consolation game.
Trailing by four, Warner drained a three-pointer, Gerardo Vasquez scored on a driving layup and Warner hit a free throw during the game’s final minutes to give the Owls their third win of the season against three losses.
Patrick Manifold scored 16 points and hauled in eight rebounds to lead UMPI. Louis, who was selected to the all-tournament team, had 14 points, while Brad Trask contributed 13 points and six rebounds.
Both the men’s and women’s teams at UMPI hosted UM-Machias last Wednesday. The visiting Clippers took both ends of the doubleheader, winning the women’s game, 59-44, and also taking the men’s contest, 72-66.
In the opener, the Owls (now 0-4) trailed 41-38 with just under seven minutes to play, but UMM went on a 9-0 run to break the game open.
Amanda Hotham was aggressive off the bench, taking the ball right at the Clips and drawing fouls. She hit on nine of 11 free throw attempts and scored a game- and career-high 16 points.
In the men’s game, the Owls led at intermission, but UMM came back for a strong second half to come out on top.
Louis tallied 19 points and Manifold netted 16 points and had nine rebounds to lead the Owls.
