Men’s basketball outlasts UMPI in dramatic win

AUGUSTA, Maine - The University of Maine at Augusta men's basketball team avenged a heart-breaking 2014 loss to the University of Maine Presque Isle when the Moose defeated the Owls 62-61 Monday night at the Augusta Civic Center in non-conference action. 

In 2014, the Moose (4-5, 2-1 YSCC) lost in the waining seconds when UMPI point guard Chase Vicaire drained a pair of free-throws to give the Owls (3-2) the victory. It was Vicaire who tried to play spoiler once again, as his three point attempt at the buzzer rattled in and out of the hoop to give UMA the hard-fought victory over UMPI.

In a game that included eight ties and 14 lead changes, UMA held off a furious rally by the Owls in the final minutes of the game to preserve the win. With the Moose leading by nine points thanks to a pair of free-throws from Senior Keith Chesley (Clinton, Maine), UMPI rattled off a 8-2 run to close to within three points, 61-58 with a little over a minute remaining in regulation. Senior Brandon Rogers (Turlock, Calif.) hit one of his two free throws to give his the Moose a four point advantage. 

The Owls drew the fouls to get to the free-throw line four times in the final 12 seconds, but converted only two attempts to keep the Moose in front 62-61, setting up the dramatic finish. UMA out-shot the Owls from the floor, shooting 37.7% to 35.5% for UMPI, and the two teams broke even on rebounds with 40 each. Chesley was the high scorer for the Moose with 18 points and 11 boards, while Rogers kicked in 15 points and 13 rebounds. Freshmen Dallas Murray (Newport, R.I.), Noah Thompson (Yuma, Ariz.), and Joseph Davila each kicked in eight points for head coach Jim Ford. 

Kim Collins was the lead scorer for UMPI with 11 points, and Vicaire was also in double-digits with ten points. UMA returns to action on Tuesday evening when the team travels to New Hampshire to take on NHTI in Yankee Small College Conference action.