The University of Maine at Presque Isle was unable to garner wins on the basketball court over the weekend.
The men’s team lost both games in the Colby Classic held in Waterville on Saturday and Sunday, while the women’s team fell in its home debut Sunday.
The Owl men took on the host Colby Mules on Saturday and led by nine points with 18 minutes remaining before Colby’s defense stiffened en route to the 82-60 victory.
UMPI converted just one field goal during an eight-minute stretch and Colby took advantage. Sam Jefferson’s 22 points led the victorious Mules, while Maurice Harris had 14 points and nine rebounds and Deandre Duncombe 13 points and eight board for UMPI.
The following afternoon, Montclair State University of Montclair, New Jersey, handed the Owls a 70-60 defeat. In this one, the Red Hawks seized control early and built a 22-point halftime lead before UMPI fought back to within five points with just over four minutes remaining. Montclair State connected on free throws down the stretch to come out on top.
Kevin Collins hit five 3-pointers and ended up with 23 points to lead the Owls’ offense. Harris chipped in with 11 points and Anthony Chacho grabbed a team-high seven rebounds.
Earlier in the week, UMPI gave visiting Husson University a scare for a half, but the Owls fell by a score of 78-70 in the game played last Tuesday at Wieden Gymnasium.
UMPI used the outside shooting of Duncombe (16 first-half points, including four 3-pointers) to build a 30-21 lead with just under six minutes to play in the first half, but the Eagles came back and took a two-point edge (34-32) into intermission on a buzzer-beating jumper by Raheem Anderson.
Husson built the lead to seven points early in the second half, but a 3-point field goal by the Owls’ Collins with 14:22 left tied it at 47. Raheem Anderson answered with a 3-pointer of his own 13 seconds later and Husson owned the lead the rest of the way.
Anderson scored 30 points to lead 2-0 Husson and teammate Mitchell Worcester, a former Washburn standout, netted 15 points, including three 3-pointers, and added four rebounds and two assists. Justin Martin scored seven points and hauled in a game-high 11 rebounds.
Duncombe finished with 23 points for UMPI, while adding six boards and two assists. Collins tossed in 13 points as the Owls suffered their first loss after opening with a pair of victories. Wilburn Griffiths was solid with nine points, five rebounds and four assists. Harris was held to two points before fouling out, but he did have a team-best six assists and also grabbed five rebounds.
UMPI enjoyed a 39-35 advantage in the rebounding department and the team had 16 assists in the contest.
UMPI (2-3) next plays on Thursday at UM-Machias beginning at 7 p.m. The Owls won the first meeting by a score of 85-71 when they met at the Charlie Ryan Tournament at Thomas College in Waterville.
The Owl women’s team fell to 0-3 following Sunday’s 59-40 home loss to Becker College of Massachusetts.
Becker led the entire game and build the advantage to as many as 32 points before UMPI pecked away at the end. The Owls committed more than 30 turnovers as they were unable to handle Becker’s full court pressure defense.
Emilia Churchill hit for three 3-point field goals to finish with a team-best 11 points for UMPI. Rhylee Wright put in 10 points and also grabbed 10 rebounds for the Owls, who next play Wesleyan University in Middletown, Connecticut, at 6 p.m. Friday.
