The UMPI men’s basketball team reached the American Collegiate Athletic Association championship game Feb. 25 in Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts, but lost to tourney host Pine Manor, 62-53.
The previous afternoon, the Owls advanced with a 70-60 victory over Valley Forge.
In the title game, coach Dan Kane’s UMPI squad held a 44-43 lead thanks to a Deandre Duncombe foul shot with 8:16 to play, but Pine Manor broke open a close game with a 7-0 run over a 1-1/2 minute span and never let the Owls get closer than six points the rest of the way.
Steven Collins scored 17 points to lead Pine Manor, while Kevin Collins paced UMPI with 17 points and six rebounds. Duncombe finished with 13 points and Maurice Harris posted 11 points and grabbed nine boards.
UMPI shot just 31.9 percent from the field and 53 percent from the foul line in the contest.
Against Valley Forge, the Owls trailed by as many as 13 points in the first half but rallied for the victory. Kevin Collins paced UMPI with 21 points and seven rebounds. Harris had 17 points and nine rebounds and Kim Collins 17 points and six boards. Anthony Chacho turned in a strong floor game with seven points, six rebounds and seven assists.
The Owls finished the season with a record of 13-14. It was the final game for Kevin Collins, Kim Collins, Harris and Chacho, who are all seniors.
