PRESQUE ISLE, ME
UMPI Closed out their home semester slate of games when they hosted one of the best teams in the state, the University of Southern Maine Huskies for a Saturday noontime start. In the Owls last two games, it was the second half that came back and bit them. But this time, it was a first-half run from USM that proved to be the difference in the end, as they came away with an 18-point win.
How it Happened:
The very beginning of the game saw USM build on a slim lead while the Owls stayed right in it. The game was incredibly physical from the very start as they figured out what kind of game it would be. The Owls tied it at six, with McMichael scoring four of the first six points. USM then went on a 6-0 run to take a 12-6 lead. They'd never let UMPI get within a possession for the rest of the game. The Huskies pulled away to go up 19-10 before UMPI held tough to prevent it from getting out of hand too early. At the 10 and a half minute mark, USM led by eight at 25-17. Three minutes later, it was a 14 point advantage, and by the three minute mark, USM led by 20. Their slow but deliberate run took complete control of the game in the first half. The Owls did find a way to win the last three minutes making it an 18-point lead for USM at the half.
In the second half, UMPI looked like a new club as they completely out played Southern Maine for the first five minutes. After surrendering a free throw to go down 19, UMPI went on a 9-0 run to cut it 10 and then had it down to a six point deficit by the 15 minute mark. The Owls played their best ball of the afternoon in that five-minute stretch as James Yamashita made three threes in a row to help get the Owls back in it. Unfortunately for UMPI, they couldn't keep up this torrid pace as USM slowly took back control, though nothing like they had in the first half. UMPI battled throughout the rest of the half to keep it close, and they did keep it within reach, but it mostly hovered around a double-digit lead for USM. Throughout the last seven minutes, USM slowly crept away again as it became too far for the Owls to make another run. In the end, the second half ended up being exactly 50/50 as both teams scored 29 points. Though UMPI slowed USM down significantly, their 53 point first half was too much to overcome as the final ended 82-64.
Top Performers:
The Owls were led by Yuki Ishibashi who scored 13 points off the bench. He also had eight more rebounds to lead the Owls in both points and rebounds. James Yamshita also had 11 points as he delivers back-to-back productive performances. Aleix Moreno, Tyson Enget, and Akhe McMichael all had eight points for UMPI.
Next Up:
The Owls drop to 1-3 on the year, and will now head to Lesley University next Friday, November 21st for their first conference weekend of the year as they take on Thomas College the very next day.
