Feb. 12, 2008
BIDDEFORD, Maine - Consecutive dunks by Jaykyri Simpson (East Cleburne, Texas) and Johnnie Jefferson (Dallas, Texas) capped off a 14-2 second-half run by the University of New England, as the Nor'easters cruised for a 74-62 win over Endicott College in a The Commonwealth Coast Conference game Tuesday evening.
The win was the first for the Nor'easters over Endicott since Feb. 16, 2002 - a span of 10 games. UNE improves to 13-9 overall and pushes its conference mark to 7-3. The Nor'easters' seven conference wins are their highest output in their nine seasons in the league. Endicott falls to 9-13 (5-5 TCCC).
A lay-up by Tom Connor (Kittery, Maine) gave the Gulls their final lead (46-45) lead with 12:58 remaining in the second half. UNE responded by putting together a 14-2 run, which was started by a Chas Rentrope (Peoria, Ariz.) lay-up. All five of UNE's starters would score during the spurt, which came to an end on consecutive fastbreak flushes by Simpson and Jefferson.
After Gull forward Joey Burgos (Lawrence, Mass.) made 1 of 2 free throws to get Endicott back on the scoreboard, Isaac Stickney (Rumford, Maine) scored half of UNE's 10 unanswered points to give the hosts a 20-point (69-49) cushion and put the contest out of reach.
Simpson tallied a game-high 23 points and eight assists to pace the winners. Stickney tossed in 19 points, grabbed nine rebounds and made five steals, while Jefferson scored 12 points.
Burgos came off the bench to net a team-high 14 points (6-for-9 shooting) for Endicott. Guards Mike Rhodes (Amston, Conn.) and Graham Whitelaw (Kennebunk, Maine) added 10 points apiece.
A trapping UNE defense forced 22 Gull turnovers, and the Nor'easters came up with 12 steals.
The first half featured three ties and six lead changes, with Endicott coming away with a slim 34-33 lead thanks in large part to 53.6 percent (15 of 28) shooting from the floor.
The Nor'easters will return to the hardwood Saturday (Feb. 16) when they entertain Colby-Sawyer College at 3:00 p.m. The Gulls host Salve Regina University that same day at 1:00 p.m.
