Box Score Presque Isle, ME – The Owls celebrate a special night for the players and for the record books in an overtime victory over the Hornets of Northern Vermont University – Lyndon. The Owls beat their North Atlantic Conference opponent 102-96 on the Owls senior day. This win not only brings the Owls to a third place finish in the conference, allowing the Owls to host a playoff game, this win brings UMPI to 14-9 on the year, which is the best record for UMPI men's basketball in 25 years. Sitting at 14-9, finishing 8-4 in the conference, this is the Owls best record since the 1996-97 season where the Owls finished 16-8.
The Owls celebrated their senior day with five seniors, Griffin Guerrette (Presque Isle, ME), Parker Onorato (Bath, ME), KJ Minter (Elkton, MD), Dany Harris (Danbury, CT) and Glen Jones (Stamford, CT). With the five seniors starting, the Owls found themselves down early, while keeping the game within a ten point deficit, the Owls continued to battle. Every run by the Owls was answered by the Hornets, allowing them to maintain the lead going into the half. The second half was more of the same early, as the Owls found themselves down as much as 13 points with just over eight minutes to go in the game. UMPI's energy picked up, as an 8-2 run followed to cut the lead. A 9-0 run followed later in the second half, led by the Owls three leading scorers, Guerrette, Harris and Jean Mendez, bringing the Owls within one.
Some more back and forth play in clutch time gave the Owls the lead with a basket by Minter with just 1:38 to go. A couple empty possessions by each team followed with a foul, leading Harris to the line. With Harris hitting one of two, the Owls found themselves up one with under a minute to go. Antonio Carlisle of Lyndon his a tough layup, two of his 20 points on the night, to tie the game at 87 all. A couple more defensive stops led to overtime. A couple of defensive stop by the Owls, followed by some scoring gave them an early lead in OT. The Hornets answered immediately, tying the game once again. It was Harris late that hit two clutch free throws, off an offensive rebound, followed by a steal and two more points to give the Owls the edge. From then on the Owls knocked down some free throws and got some clutch defensive stops to put this overtime victory away.
Harris led all scorers with 28 points on another efficient 11-19 shooting to go along with his 11 rebounds and three steals. Guerrette finished with 21 points off 8-13 shooting while Jean Mendez filled up the stat line with 21 points, 11 rebounds and seven assists. Minter in his first game back off injury finished with 11 points and 10 rebounds off 5-9 shooting.
The Owls will now host their NAC playoff game this Tuesday the 15th vs Thomas College, tip off at 5:30pm.
