KEENE, NH
The UMPI Men's team had a chance to extend their season as they got the invite to the ECAC Division III championship for the second straight year and went in as the seven seed. The Owls took on the second seeded Keene State Owls and met their match from the very jump.
How it Happened:
Keene State scored the game's first 15 points making it a nightmarish start for UMPI through the first three-and-a-half minutes. UMPI closed the gap slightly at 20-8 by the 14:33 mark, but Keene went on another run to go up 27-8 with 12:46 still remaining in the half. UMPI struggled to get any sort of momentum going as Keene thrived on their home floor and stifled UMPI's offense, holding them to just 22 points at half.
In the second, UMPI had to fight to stay afloat, and fight they did, though it would prove futile. Keene had opened it up to a 30-point lead by the 14:55 mark and expanded on it, as they found an answer to everything.
UMPI struggled to make a shot throughout the game, finishing at 27.3% to Keene's 41.6%.
Top Performers:
Akhe McMichael had one more leading-scorer performance in his storied career as he led the Owls with 20 points and seven rebounds. His hall-of-fame career was highlighted by these last two seasons where he led UMPI to new heights including the program record for wins a year ago, and the program's first ever NAC Championship appearance. Doug McCalla had eight and five as he finishes his shortened junior seasons and will have one more year next year as the Owls' top performer. James Yamashita, another senior, was next closest with six points, Aleix Moreno had five.
Another Year in the Books:
UMPI finishes the season at 15-14 overall, after an 11-7 regular season conference record and a 2-1 postseason record. They started 2-10 and went 13-2 over their next 15 games to get to the NAC Championship game and ultimately another ECAC berth. It was one of, if not the best semester in program history, despite falling short in their final two games. Dan Kane will lose 6 seniors: Akhe McMichael, Dwaine Williams, AJ Creech, Joelle Hodge, Aleix Moreno and James Yamashita. All of whom contributed in big ways this season as the Owls will have some big shoes to fill this offseason. But take this season for what it was: the Owls proved that they, have one of the best programs in the conference, not just year, but perennially.
