Box Score Presque Isle, Maine -- The University of Maine-Presque Isle men cruised to a 79-64 home victory over Vermont Tech Wednesday evening.
The Owls began the game on a 24-8 run that could have signaled danger for the visitors trying to shake off the effects of a long day of travel to Northern Maine, but the Knights proved to be a game group by fighting back and making a 13-0 run to bring the UMPI lead to 24-21 with under four minutes to go in the first half.
With 3:14 to go in the first stanza, sophomore Chase Vicaire banged home a three ball to stop the Knight come back run. Vicaire would add two more jumpers in consecutive possessions from just inside the arc to give the Owls a 31-24 lead. The Owls would end the first half up, 36-26.
Jamal Hughes attempted to put the Knights on his back, scoring 20 of his game-high 24 in the second twenty minutes of play, but the hot shooting of UMPI didn't allow Vermont Tech back into the game. The Owls connected on 19-of-36 shots (52.8%) from the field in the second half to secure the Victory for UMPI.
Vicaire led the Owls with 20 points, 4 rebounds and 3 steals, while Thiago Conceicao and Claude Louis each tallied 17. Conceicao also grabbed 6 rebounds and blocked 2 shots, Louis added 5 assists, 3 rebounds and 2 steals.
Hughes recorded a double-double for Vermont Tech (3-7) with his 24 point, 10 rebound effort. Nick Ryan added 12 points and 5 rebounds for the Knights.
UMPI is now 7-5 on the season and take a short break until they travel to Central Maine Community College on Saturday, January 18.
