USM Men's
Basketball
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News
Wednesday, March 11, 1998
Fennessy Named to ECAC Men's All-Star Second Team
GORHAM, Maine -- Junior forward Mike Fennessy (Lewiston, Maine) of the University of
Southern Maine Huskies men's basketball team picked up another honor Tuesday (March 10)
when the Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) announced that he had been named the
ECAC/AmeriSuites Division III New England all-star second team as voted by the region's coaches
and sports information directors.
Fennessy rejoined the Huskies' men's program (8-17) at midseason after being out of
college basketball for five years and made an immediate impact. The 6-foot-4 small forward
averaged 19.8 points and 7.1 rebounds in 16 games. He was previously named to the Little East
Conference men's all-star first team. He helped the team to 7-9 mark, including the championship
of the Husky Invitational, in the 16 games he played after a 1-7 start.
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Monday, March 2, 1998
For Release Tuesday AM, March 3
Fennessy Named Little East Conference All-Star
GORHAM, Maine -- University of Southern Maine junior forward Mike Fennessy, who
returned to the collegiate basketball scene after being away for five years, was rewarded for his
efforts Monday when it was announced he had been voted to the Little East Conference all-star first
team. Albert D. Bean Jr., commissioner of the Little East Conference, made the announcement of
the league's all-star teams and individual award winners late Monday afternoon.
The all-star teams and individual awards were selected by balloting of the conference's eight
head coaches.
Fennessy (Lewiston, Maine), the Little East Conference Rookie of the Year in 1991-92, had
been away from the college game since his freshman season and was out of school for three years
before regaining his eligibility at the end of the fall semester. His presence was immediately felt as
he led the Huskies to the championship of the Husky Invitational, and earned Little East Player of
the Week honors in consecutive weeks in January.
"It's a heck of an accomplishment for someone to come right in after being away from college
basketball and perform as he did," said second-year head coach Dan Costigan.
"He might have caught some people by surprise those first couple of games back in that he
came right in and perform at such a high level. But, as the season progressed, everyone had to
defend him, yet he still managed to get his points. At times, he makes things look so easy and he
makes everyone around his that much better."
In 16 games, the 6-foot-4 small forward averaged 19.8 points and 7.1 rebounds while
passing out 34 assists and making 23 steals. He shot 43 percent from the floor, including 41
percent (33 of 81) from three-point territory. In the games he played, USM was 7-9 after starting the
season 1-7. The Huskies finished the season 8-17 overall.
1997-98 Little East Conference Men's Basketball All-Stars
First Team
Player Class Position Institution
Adam DeChristopher Junior Guard Plymouth State College
Jason Antonio Junior Guard University of Massachusetts Dartmouth
Kenny Bliss Senior Guard Rhode Island College
Ace Elefteriadis Senior Forward Plymouth State College
Mike Fennessy Junior Forward University of Southern Maine
Al Rue Senior Guard University of Massachusetts Boston
Honorable Mention
Eric McQueen Junior Forward/Guard Plymouth State College
Tony Moreira Senior Forward Univ. of Massachusetts Dartmouth
Bryan Moretti Senior Guard Eastern Connecticut State University
Tom Rea Senior Forward Western Connecticut State University
Salih Rowe Freshman Center University of Massachusetts Boston
Player of the Year
Adam DeChristopher Junior Guard Plymouth State College
Co-Rookie of the Year
Salih Rowe Freshman Center University of Massachusetts Boston
Nick Cicelio Freshman Center University of Massachusetts Dartmouth
Coach of the Year
Paul Hogan, Plymouth State College
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Tuesday, February 24, 1998
Little East Conference Tournament -- First Round
Panthers Eliminate Huskies
PLYMOUTH, N.H. -- Junior guard Adam DeChristopher (Brockton, Mass.) scored a
game-high 21 points to pace four players in double figures as the Plymouth State College Panthers
defeated the University of Southern Maine Huskies, 92-66, in the first round of the Little East
College Tournament at Foley Gymnasium Tuesday night.
The win improves the second-seeded Panthers overall record to 19-6. Plymouth advances to
Friday night's first semifinal game against third-seeded Keene State College which defeated sixth-
seeded UMass Boston, 99-98. Southern Maine, the seventh seed, finishes its season at 8-17.
The host Panthers never trailed taking the lead for good on a tip-in by senior Doug Stokes
Wyckoff, N.J.) just two-and-a-half minutes into the game. The lead grew to 20 in the first half on a
dunk by Jamodi Robinson (Framingham, Mass.). The Huskies closed to within 14 at the half (48-
34) with a 10-4 run keyed by two three-point field goals by senior Frank Billings (Concord, N.H.)
and a pair of lay-ups by junior captain Mike Ellerbrook (Northampton, Mass.).
Any thoughts of a Husky comeback in the second half were dashed by an 11-5 run by the
Panthers that pushed the lead back up to 20. The Panthers' biggest lead 31 (80-49). Billings then
scored nine of 11 USM points to slice the lead back down to 20 with five minutes to play.
Stokes finished the game with 14 points, and senior Ace Elefteriadis (Belmont, Mass.) and
Robinson each contributed 11 points.
Junior Mike Fennessy (Lewiston, Maine) led the Huskies with 17 points. Billings finished
with 15 points, including four three-point field goals, and senior Jim Cole (Portland, Maine) had 13
points.
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Saturday, February 21, 1998
Huskies Drop Regular Season Finale
Travel to Plymouth State for Little East Quarterfinals
KEENE, N.H. -- The Keene State College placed six players in double figures, led by
freshman Chris Coates (Hampton, N.H.) with 19 points, to defeat the University of Southern Maine
Huskies, 99-75, in a Little East Conference game Saturday afternoon at Spaulding Gymnasium.
The win clinched third place in the Little East for the Owls who finished the regular season
17-7 overall and 8-6 in the conference. Southern Maine drops to 8-16 overall and 4-10 in the
conference to finish in seventh place. The Huskies will travel to Plymouth State College on
Tuesday for the first round of the Little East tournament while Keene State will host the University of
Massachusetts Boston.
A 10-2 run by the Owls to close the first half broke open a three-point game (38-35) and sent
the home club to the locker room with a 48-37 lead. Coates had six points during the run.
USM got within seven (52-47) early in the second half following three-point field goals by
Mike Ellerbrook (Northampton, Mass.) and Frank Billings (Concord, N.H.), but after a time-out the
Owls responded with a 15-2 run to open a 20-point gap (67-47) with 12:38 to play. USM never got
closer than 16 the rest of the way.
Junior Kareem Porter (New York, N.Y.) aided the Owls cause with 18 points. Senior Rich
Bahlmann (Point Pleasant, N.J.) added 14 points and dished out seven assists while Stacy Messiah
(Boston, Mass.), Fred Fieldhouse (Somers, Conn.) and Stephan Kerby (Woodbridge, Va.) all had 10
points.
Billings finished as the game's high scorer with 24 points, including four three-point field
goals. Freshman Wade Millett (East Waterboro, Maine) had 14 points.
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Tuesday, February 17, 1998
UMB Beacons Hold Off USM Huskies Rally
GORHAM, Maine -- Freshman center Salih Rowe (Boston, Mass.) scored five of his 15
points in the final four-and-a-half minutes to help the University of Massachusetts Boston Beacons
avert blowing an 11-point half-time lead and post a 62-59 victory over the University of Southern
Maine Huskies in Little East Conference action Tuesday night at the Warren G. Hill Gymnasium.
The win improves the Beacons overall mark to 10-12 with two games remaining, and 4-9 in
the Little East. Southern Maine falls to 8-15 overall with one game left, and 4-9 in the Little East.
The two teams are presently tied for sixth place in the Little East. USM closes the regular season
at Keene State on Saturday.
The Beacons built their 36-25 half-time margin by outscoring the Huskies, 13-4 over the final
five minutes of the half. The Huskies battled all the way back in the second half, and took their only
lead of the game (55-53) when senior Jim Cole (Portland, Maine) converted two free throws with
five minutes to play.
Rowe came right back for the Beacons to tie the game with a pair of free throws, then put
UMB up for good converting one of two charity tosses the next trip down the floor. He later had a
key basket that gave UMB a four-point (60-56) lead with just under three minutes to play.
Senior Al Rue (Roxbury, Mass.) converted both ends of a one-and-one with seven seconds
left for UMB after the Huskies got back within one (60-59) on a free throw by junior Mike Fennessy
(Lewiston, Maine). USM had one last three-point shot attempt by senior Frank Billings (Concord,
N.H.) to force overtime, but the shot failed.
Senior Taharri Turner (Manchester, Conn.) led all scorers with 17 points for UMB. Rue
finished with 12 points and freshman Roger Roberts (South Boston, Mass.) added 10. Freshman
Keenan Gibson (Camden, N.J.) had eight points and a game-high 13 rebounds.
Southern Maine was led by Billings and freshman Travis Gilmore (Kingfield, Maine) with 15
points apiece. Junior Mike Ellerbrook (Northampton, Mass.) had 12 points and Cole added 11 for
the Huskies.
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Saturday, February 14, 1998
Anchormen Rout Huskies
PROVIDENCE, R.I. -- The University of Southern Maine Huskies hopes for a home court
berth in the upcoming Little East Conference playoffs suffered a serious blow Saturday as the
Rhode Island College Anchormen routed the Huskies, 72-47.
The loss drops the Huskies to 8-14 overall and 4-8 (sixth place) in the conference. Rhode
Island College improves to 12-9 overall and 6-6 in the Little East. The Anchormen and Keene State
are now tied for third place and hold the final two home court playoff spots.
The Anchormen outscored the Huskies 16-2 over the final ten minutes of the first half to take
a 32-19 lead at half-time. The Huskies, who had a 17-14 after junior Bryan Hill (Sanford, Maine)
made two free throws with 11:59 left in the half, went scoreless for more than seven minutes until
freshman Travis Gilmore (Kingfield, Maine) broke the drought with a basket.
After junior Mike Fennessy (Lewiston, Maine) opened the second half with a three-point field
goal to get USM within 10, the Anchormen scored the game's next 12 points to take command.
USM never got closer than 14 the rest of the way.
Fennessy was the lone USM player to reach double figures tossing in 11 points. Junior
captain Mike Ellerbrook (Northampton, Mass.) chipped in nine.
Seniors Kenny Bliss (East Providence, R.I.), Frank Minikon (East Providence, R.I.) and Oscar
Vitorino (Pawtucket, R.I.) combined to score 47 points Anchormen. Minikon took game-high scoring
honors with 17 points while Vitorino tossed in 16 and Bliss added 14 and dished out six assists.
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Tuesday, February 10, 1998
DeChristopher Three-Point Lifts Panther Past Huskies
GORHAM, Maine -- Junior Adam DeChristopher (Brockton, Mass.) hit a three-point shot with
17 seconds remaining in regulation to lift the Little East Conference leading Plymouth State College
Panthers to a 59-57 victory over the University of Southern Maine Huskies Tuesday night at the
Warren G. Hill Gymnasium.
The win improves Plymouth State's mark to 15-5 overall and 10-1 in the Little East. It was the
Panthers' eight win in their last nine games. Southern Maine falls to 8-13 overall and 4-7 in the
Little East.
Southern Maine, which trailed by as many as 15 (30-15) late in the first half, got back into the
game scoring the final six points of the first half, then opened the second half with an 8-0 run to get
back within one (30-29). The Huskies finally pulled even at 34-34 on senior Jim Cole's (Portland,
Maine) three-point shot with 16:37 to play.
Plymouth State was able to rebuild its lead back up to 10 (46-36) with a 12-2 run over the
next four minutes. DeChristopher had four of his game-high 20 points during the outburst.
USM battled back again and took its only lead of the game (56-55) on a basket by freshman
Travis Gilmore (Kingfield, Maine) with 1:09 to play. Neither team scored from that point until
DeChristopher hit his three-pointer from the left side.
The Huskies had a chance to tie the game with eight seconds as junior Mike Ellerbrook
(Northampton, Mass.) went to the line for two shots, but he was only able to convert the first. Senior
Doug Stokes (Wyckoff, N.J.) grabbed the rebound for Plymouth and was immediately fouled.
Stokes made the front end of the one-and-one, but missed the second. Ellerbrook's last second
shot in the lane bang off the rim, and senior Frank Billings (Concord, N.H.) desperation tip attempt
fell off preserving the Panthers win.
Senior Ace Elefteriadis (Belmont, Mass.) had 11 points and junior Eric McQueen (Lawrence,
Mass.) added 10 for the Panthers.
Junior Mike Fennessy (Lewiston, Maine) led the Huskies with 19 points while Gilmore
finished with a career-high 17.
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Saturday, February 7, 1998
Fennessy Lifts Huskies Past Colonials at the Buzzer
GORHAM, Maine -- Junior Mike Fennessy (Lewiston, Maine) scored on a lay-up with one
second remaining to give the University of Southern Maine Huskies a 69-67 come-from-behind
victory over the Western Connecticut State University Colonials in a Little East Conference men's
basketball game Saturday afternoon at the Warren G. Hill Gymnasium.
The win improves the Huskies overall mark to 8-12 and 4-6 in the conference. Western
Connecticut dips to 11-8 overall and 4-6 in LEC play. The victory is the Huskies first over the
Colonials, who had won the last eight meetings, since the 1993-94 season.
Southern Maine trailed by ten (57-47) with 8:19 left to play following a basket by senior
Antonio Alexander (Bloomfield, Conn.), who led the Colonials with 20 points. Fennessy and
freshman center Travis Gilmore (Kingfield, Maine) then combined for an 11-2 run that got the
Huskies back within one with 4:08 to go.
Fennessy gave the Huskies their first lead (64-63) since midway in the first half netting a
basket with 1:42 to play. The lead grew to four (67-63) before Alexander scored, and on the
subsequent missed free throw, junior Juma Jones (Hartford, Conn.) scored on a follow-up to tie the
game with 18 seconds to play.
The Huskies brought the ball up the floor taking most of the remaining before senior Jim Cole
(Portland, Maine) found Fennessy cutting to the basket for the winning points.
Fennessy led all scorers with 24 points, including 17 in the second half, 12 over the final
7:52. Cole added 18 points, and Gilmore finished with 14 for the Huskies.
Senior Tom Rea (Winsted, Conn.) had 11 points for the Colonials.
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Saturday, January 31, 1998
Eastern Connecticut Holds Off Southern Maine
WILLIMANTIC, Conn. -- Senior Bryan Moretti (Norwich, Conn.) scored 18 points to lead four
players in double figures as the Eastern Connecticut State University Warriors defeated the
University of Southern Maine Huskies, 72-58, in a Little East Conference men's basketball game
Saturday.
The win was the fifth straight for the Warriors against the Huskies dating back to December
1995 and gives them a sweep of the two-game season series. Eastern Connecticut is now 8-11
overall and 3-6 in the Little East. Southern Maine drops to 7-11 overall and 3-6 in the Little East.
Moretti scored the game's first six points to put the Huskies in a hole quickly. USM came
back to tie the game twice, but an 11-0 run, keyed by two Todd Richardson three-point shots, put the
Warriors ahead 20-9. USM never got closer than six points the rest of the game.
The Huskies were within six (39-33) in the second half after a basket by junior Mike Fennessy
(Lewiston, Maine), but Eastern Connecticut responded with a 13-5 run to build a 16-point cushion
with 9:25 to p[lay.
Sophomore guard Tom Gostomski (Meridan, Conn.) and junior forward Rich Martin
(Bridgeport, Conn.) each had 12 points, and junior Peter Geissler (Vernon, Conn.) had a career-
high 11 points, for the Warriors.
Fennessy led all scorers with 19 points. Junior Bryan Hill (Sanford, Maine) had 13 points
and shared game-high rebounding honors with EC's Martin by grabbing 10 boards, and senior
Frank Billings (Concord, N.H.) added 11 points for the Huskies.
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Tuesday, January 27, 1998
Huskies Come From Behind, Beat Beacons
BOSTON, Mass. -- Led by junior forward Mike Fennessy's game-high 22 points, the
University of Southern Maine Huskies came from behind Tuesday night to defeat the University of
Massachusetts Boston Beacons, 62-59, in a Little East Conference men's basketball game at the
Clark Athletic Center.
The win improves the Huskies overall record to 7-10 on the season and 3-5 in the Little East.
UMass Boston, which has now dropped ten of its last 11 games, is 6-10 overall and 1-7 in the Little
East.
After watching the Beacons score the game's first 13 points and trailing by as many as 14
(32-18) in the first half, the Huskies scratched their way back to within six (42-36) at half-time.
Fennessy (Lewiston, Maine) had 15 of his 22 points before the break.
After an early second-half spurt got the Huskies within two a couple of times, the Beacons
appeared to take command with a 7-0 run to build a 50-41 lead. USM answered right back with a
Fennessy basket and a pair of three-point baskets by senior Frank Billings (Concord, N.H.) to close
within one (50-49) with 9:19 to play.
USM finally took its first lead of the night at 55-53 with 5:49 to play on junior Bryan Hill's
(Sanford, Maine) offensive rebound and basket, and never surrendered the lead. Billings iced the
contest with two free throws with 7.8 seconds to go. The Huskies did have to weather senior Al
Rue's (Roxbury, Mass.) desperation three-point shot at the buzzer.
Billings finished with 13 points, while Hill and sophomore Jake Johnson (York, Maine) came
off the bench to combine for 15 points.
Freshman Roger Roberts (South Boston, Mass.) led four Beacons in double figures with 16
points. Sophomore Jim Baxter (Dorchester, Mass.) had 13 while Rue and senior Taharri Turner
(Manchester, Conn.) each had 10.
UMass Boston, which shot 54 percent (13 for 24) in the first half, went stone cold in the
second half shooting just 25 percent (6 for 24) and was limited to just 17 points.
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Saturday, January 24, 1998
Corsairs Beat Huskies, Retain Share of LEC Lead
GORHAM, Maine -- Junior Jason Antonio (Mattapoisett, Mass.) scored a game-high 20
points, including four three-point baskets, to lead the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth
Corsairs to a 68-62 victory over the University of Southern Maine Huskies in a Little East
Conference men's basketball contest Saturday afternoon at the Warren G. Hill Gymnasium.
The win improves the Corsairs record to 10-5 overall and 6-1 in the conference. UMD
remains tied for first place in the Little East with Plymouth State College, a 75-59 winner over
Western Connecticut State University. Southern Maine drops to 6-10 overall and 2-5 in the Little
East.
Leading by one (30-29) at half-time, the Corsairs began the second half with a lightning quick
10-0 run to open an eleven-point (40-29) lead. Antonio and junior Tim Nelson (Reading, Mass.)
each hit a three-pointer during the two-and-a-half minute span.
USM chipped away at that lead the rest of game and got within two (52-50) on two free
throws by junior Mike Fennessy (Lewiston, Maine) with 6:50 to play. Freshman Jay Norton
(Billerica, Mass.) hit a big three-point shot for his only field goal of the game the next trip down the
floor for UMD, and the Huskies would never get closer than three the rest of the way.
Junior Tony Moreira (Pawtucket, R.I.) added 15 points and a team-high eight rebounds to the
Corsairs cause.
Senior Frank Billings (Concord, N.H.) and Fennessy each finished with 14 points to lead the
Huskies. Fennessy also had a game-high 14 rebounds. Junior Mike Ellerbrook (Northampton,
Mass.) and senior Jim Cole (Portland, Maine) each had 10 points.
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Tuesday, January 20, 1998
Panthers Too Much for Huskies
PLYMOUTH, N.H. -- The Plymouth State College Panthers, tied for first place in the Little
East Conference at the start of the night's action, used a 10-0 run midway through the first half to
snap a tie game and went on to beat the University of Southern Maine Huskies, 87-63, in Little East
Conference men's basketball action Tuesday night.
The win improves the Panthers record to 9-4 overall and 5-1 in the conference. Southern
Maine, winners in five of its last six games, falls to 6-9 overall and 2-4 in the conference. The
Huskies will host the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth Corsairs, the conference's other co-
leader with Plymouth State, on Saturday.
With the game tied 10-10 following a basket by USM sophomore Jake Johnson (York, Maine)
with 13:52 to play in the first half, Plymouth scored the game's next ten points, including three-point
baskets by Eric McQueen (Lawrence, Mass.) and Ace Elefteriadis (Belmont, Mass.), to take
command. The margin grew to as many as 18 before settling at 14 (41-27) at half-time.
Any thoughts of a second half comeback by the Huskies were quickly dashed as Plymouth
State outscored USM 13-1 over the first four minutes. The Panthers largest lead was 30 points (74-
44) with 5:18 to play.
Junior Mike Fennessy (Lewiston, Maine) led the Huskies with 14 points and six rebounds.
Senior Frank Billings (Concord, N.H.) added 11. USM played the game without starters Travis
Gilmore (Kingfield, Maine) and Jim Cole (Portland, Maine) due to ankle injuries and back-up point
guard Eric Lewis (Oakland, Maine) with a hip flexor problem.
McQueen led all scorers with 16 points while Elefteriadis and junior guard Adam
DeChristopher (Brockton, Mass.) each contributed 15. McQueen also passed out seven assists
while DeChristopher had six steals.
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Saturday, January 17, 1998
Huskies Win Fifth of Last Six
GORHAM, Maine -- The University of Southern Maine Huskies converted 34 of 51 free
throws on the way to a 78-62 upset of the Keene State Owls in a Little East Conference men's
basketball contest Saturday afternoon at the Warren G. Hill Gymnasium.
The win improves the Huskies overall mark to 6-8 and 2-3 in the Little East. Keene State, off
to its best start since the 1954-55 season, had its four-game winning streak snapped while falling to
9-3 overall and 3-2 in the conference.
The Huskies, who played without point guards Mike Ellerbrook (Northampton, Mass. --
death in the family) and Eric Lewis (Oakland, Maine -- injury), then lost freshman center Travis
Gilmore (Kingfield, Maine) two minutes into the game with an injury, controlled the pace of the
game throughout. Keene State came into the game as the conference's top scoring team averaging
89.0 points.
USM took the lead for good at 13-12 on two free throws by junior Mike Fennessy
(Lewiston, Maine) with 13:10 to play in the first half. That sparked a 8-0 run that gave USM a seven-
point lead which they were able to carry into the locker room (38-31).
Keene State stayed close throughout the second half and closed within one (57-56) on a
basket by junior Kareem Porter (New York, N.Y.) with 5:21 to play. A basket by USM freshman
Josh Mathieu (Kennebunk, Maine) and a three-point field goal by Fennessy quickly pushed the
lead back up to six, and the Huskies slowly pulled away by converting their free throws.
Fennessy led all scorers with 24 points, including making 17 of 22 free throws, and a game-
high 13 rebounds . Junior Bryan Hill (Sanford, Maine) had a career-high 14 points, including a
pair of critical three-point plays (basket and free throw) down the stretch. Senior Frank Billings
(Concord, N.H.) finished with 12 points.
Freshman Fred Fieldhouse (Somers, Conn.) led the Owls with 20 points, including three
three-pointers. He had 11 of Keene's last 16 points in the first half to keep the Owls within reach of
the Huskies. Junior Stacy Massiah (Boston, Mass.) had 13 and Porter finished with 11 before
both fouled out.
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Tuesday, January 13, 1998
Huskies Get First LEC Win Since February 1996
GORHAM, Maine -- Junior Mike Fennessy (Lewiston, Maine) scored a game-high 24
points, including five three-point baskets, to lead the University of Southern Maine Huskies to a
66-60 victory over the Rhode Island College Anchormen in a men's college basketball contest
Tuesday night at the Warren G. Hill Gymnasium.
The win was the Huskies first in Little East Conference play since they defeated the
University of Massachusetts Boston, 68-60, on February 13, 1996. USM had lost, including playoff
games, 18 straight games to Little East opponents. Southern Maine improves to 5-8 overall and 1-3
in the conference. Since Fennessy regained his eligibility after being out of school for three years,
the Huskies are 4-1. Rhode Island College drops to 7-5 overall and 1-3 in the Little East.
The Anchormen, who trailed by nine at half-time (30-21), came back to tie the game on three
occasions in the second half, the last at 53-53 on a basket by senior forward Oscar Victorino
(Pawtucket, R.I.) with 5:24 to play.
Fennessy gave the Huskies the lead for good with a three-point basket on the next
possession. That basket, combined with the game's next four points by freshman Travis Gilmore
(Kingfield, Maine), gave the Huskies a 60-53 lead with 3:30 to play.
Gilmore finished strong for the Huskies with 13 points and a team-high eight rebounds.
Senior guard Frank Billings (Concord, N.H.) added 11 points and six rebounds.
Senior guard Kenny Bliss (East Providence, R.I.) led the Anchormen with 18 points and
four assists. Victorino finished with 14 points and 10 rebounds. The Anchormen had a huge
advantage on the boards (54-35, 26 offensive boards), but poor shooting from the floor (25 of 75,
33 percent) and foul line (8 for 19) hurt their effort.
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Monday, January 12, 1998
Fennessy Named Little East, ECAC Player of the Week
GORHAM, Maine -- Junior forward Mike Fennessy (Lewiston, Maine) of the University of
Southern Maine MEN'S BASKETBALL team continues to make an immediate impact since his
return to collegiate competition by being selected as the Little East Conference Player of the Week
for the second straight week, and being named the ECAC/Amerisuites Division III New England
Player of the Week for the week ending January 11.
Fennessy tallied 59 points in two games last week, including a season-high 37 in the
Huskies three-point loss at Western Connecticut. The 6-foot-4 forward connected on 21 of 38 shots
from the floor (55.3%), eight of 13 from three-point territory (61.5%) and nine of ten free throws
(90.0%). He also grabbed 13 rebounds. In four games since regaining his eligibility, Fennessy is
averaging 27.8 points and 6.8 rebounds while shooting 50.6 percent (40 of 79) from the floor and
53.6 percent (15 of 28) from three-point range.
"Michael has been playing very well since his return and making everyone around him that
much better," said second-year head coach Dan Costigan. "He's been a big boost for our program.
He has really defined the roles and become the "go to" player. The other players now have a
clearer and more defined idea of their roles, and they're playing much better because of it."
The Huskies return to action tomorrow night (Tuesday, January 13) when both teams host
Rhode Island College in a key Little East Conference doubleheader. Game times at the Warren G.
Hill Gymnasium are 5:30 p.m. for the women's game and 7:30 p.m. for the men's contest.
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Saturday, January 10, 1988
Colonials Edge Huskies, 75-72
DANBURY, Conn. -- Story to follow
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January 7, 1998
Huskies Extend Winning Streak to Three
LEWISTON, Maine -- Junior Mike Fennessy (Lewiston, Maine) and senior Jim Cole
(Portland, Maine) combined for 36 points to lead the University of Southern Maine Huskies (4-7) to
a 68-56 victory over the Bates College Bobcats (2-6) in men's basketball action Wednesday night at
Alumni Gymnasium.
The win extended the Huskies' winning streak to three games, their longest such streak since
November 1995.
The Huskies used a 23-11 run over the final ten minutes of the first half, keyed by Fennessy
(eight points), Cole (five points) and freshman Travis Gilmore (six points), to build a 16-point (42-26)
margin at half-time, then held off two Bates surges in the second half.
The Bobcats twice cut the lead to nine, the first time (42-33) as a result of a 7-0 run to start
the second half, and the second time at 57-48 after an offensive rebound and basket by Rommel
Padonou with 7:24 left. Cole restored the Huskies' double-digit lead on their next possession, and
the lead never went below 11 points the rest of the way.
Fennessy led all scorers with 22 points while Cole had 14. Gilmore finished the night with 10
points and a game-high nine rebounds. Padonou was the lone Bobcat to reach double figures
tossing in 18 points.
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Sunday, January 4, 1998
Husky Invitational
Fennessy Leads Huskies to Comeback Win Over Husson
GORHAM, Maine -- Tournament most valuable player Mike Fennessy (Lewiston, Maine/
Bridgton Academy) scored a game-high 27 points and the University of Southern Maine Huskies
used a tenacious defense to come back from a 12-point second half deficit to post a 63-58 win over
the Husson College Braves in the championship game of the 1998 Husky Invitational at the Warren
G. Hill Gymnasium Sunday afternoon.
The win improves the Huskies record to 3-7 overall and avenges an earlier 16-point loss at
the hands of the Braves in the Maine Event tournament. Husson drops to 12-4 on the season.
Trailing 49-37 five minutes into the second half, the Huskies began their come back behind
Fennessy. The junior scored 12 of the Huskies next 17 points over a nine-minute span to pull the
host team back within two (56-54).
Senior Frank Billings (Concord, N.H./New Hampton Prep) and freshman Travis Gilmore
(Kingfield, ME/Mt. Blue HS) scored the Huskies' last nine points. Billings put the Huskies ahead for
good with a three-point field goal with 5:48 to play.
Husson went ten minutes without scoring a point in second half. Sophomore Brad Olson
(Harmony, Maine) scored a basket with 11:35 left to put the Braves ahead 56-46. Husson would not
score again until senior Tony Tobin (Holbrook, Mass.) scored on a lay-up with 1:34 to play to cut
USM's lead to two (60-58).
Senior Jim Cole (Portland, Maine) and Billings finished in double figures for the Huskies
scoring 12 and 11 respectively. Junior Chris Funk (Caribou, Maine) led Husson with 18 points
while Olson had 11 points and 12 rebounds before fouling out with five seconds to play.
In the consolation game, sophomore Tim Allen (Springfield, Mass./Longmeadow HS) hit a
three-point shot with 26 seconds to play to snap a 73-73 tie and give the Wheaton College Lyons
(2-6) a 78-73 win over the Thomas College Terriers (5-7).
Thomas, trailing by as many as 16 in the second half, staged a valiant comeback and tied the
game at 73-73 on a basket by freshman Scott Raymond (Caribou, Maine) with 52 seconds left. After
a Wheaton time-out, Allen sank his game-winning shot from the left side. Junior John Pokrywkra
(Milo, Maine) had chance to tie the game, but his three-point shot hit short. Wheaton sophomore
Justin Lefkowski (Torrington, Conn.) iced the victory with two free throws with five seconds left.
Dave Pransky led the victors with 18 points before fouling out. Sophomore Lloyd Palmer
(Dorchester, Mass.) had 17 points and 16 rebounds, and Lefkowski added 16 for Wheaton.
Raymond led all scorers with 19 points while sophomore Ryan Cilley (Woodland, Maine) added 14.
Tyler Graves and Pokrywkra each finished with 11 points.
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Saturday, January 3, 1998
Braves, Huskies Advance to Husky Invitational Final
GORHAM, Maine -- The Husson College Braves and the University of Southern Maine
Huskies advanced to the championship game of the 1998 Husky Invitational with a pair of
impressive first round victories at USM's Warren G. Hill Gymnasium Saturday afternoon.
The Braves (12-3) secured their spot in the final with a solid 83-67 victory over Wheaton
College (1-6) on the strength of junior Chris Funk's (Caribou, Maine) 27 points. Southern Maine
(2-7) used a big second half outburst led by junior Mike Fennessy (Lewiston, Maine) to move past
Thomas College (5-6), 91-62.
Wheaton and Thomas will battle for third place honors Sunday afternoon at 1:00 p.m. with the
Braves and Huskies locking up at 3:00 p.m. The title game is a re-match of last November's first
round Maine Event game won by the Braves at Husson.
Funk and 6-foot-9 sophomore Brad Olson (Harmony, Maine) combined for 45 points and 26
rebounds, including 26 points in the second half as the Braves pulled away from the foul-plagued
Lyons. Husson used its superior size inside converting 31 of 36 free throw tries compared to
Wheaton's 6 for 11 charity tosses. The Braves led by as many as 25 (83-58) before the Lyons
scored the game's final nine points.
Funk led all scorers with 27 points while Olson finished with 18. Junior Sean Foye (South
Berwick, Maine) added 14 points for the Braves
Sophomores Harrison Bush (Dorchester, Mass./Northfield Mt. Hermon) and Justin Lefkowski
(Torrington, Conn.) led the Lyons with 12 and 11 points, respectively. Wheaton, which had more
field goals (28-23), was hampered by 35 percent shooting (28 for 81) and 21 turnovers against the
bigger Braves.
Fennessy, who regained his eligibility at the end of the fall semester, made his first game
since the 1991-92 season a memorable one. The 6-foot-4 forward missed his first shot, then made
his next six on the way to 15 first half points. Fennessy finished by making 11 of 20 shots in 28
minutes and grabbed seven rebounds. He paced four Huskies in doubles figures.
Senior Tyler Graves (Windham, Maine) led the Terriers with 20 points, including making
seven of 10 shots from the floor, and nine rebounds. Freshman Scott Raymond (Caribou, Maine)
added 13 points and junior John Pokrywkra (Milo, Maine) had 10 points and eight rebounds before
fouling out with 5:17 to play.
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Saturday, December 13, 1997
Wetherell Lifts Eastern Connecticut Men Past Southern Maine
GORHAM, Maine -- Sophomore forward Jay Wetherell (Milford, Conn.) scored a basket and
free throw with seven seconds remaining in regulation to lift the Eastern Connecticut State
University Warriors to a 65-63 victory over the University of Southern Maine Huskies in a Little East
Conference men's basketball game Saturday afternoon at the Warren G. Hill Gymnasium.
The win improves Eastern Connecticut's record to 3-5 overall and 1-1 in Little East play.
Southern Maine dropped to 1-7 overall and 0-2 in the conference.
After junior Aaron Tredwell (Cumberland, Maine) had given the Huskies a 61-59 lead with a
three-point play with 1:08 left, Wetherell tied the game at 61-61 with 44 seconds to play. After the
Huskies missed, the Warriors worked the clock down to 12 seconds before calling timeout to set up
Wetherell's winning basket and subsequent free throw for a 64-61 lead.
After a USM turnover, junior Bryan Hall (Hartford, Conn.) made one free throw to give Eastern
a four-point lead. The Huskies had a chance to tie when Frank Billings (Concord, NH) was fouled
shooting a three-pointer. Billings made the first two free throws, then deliberately missed the third
shot, but the Huskies were unable to gather the rebound for a shot.
Wetherell led the Warriors with 17 points, all coming in the second half. Hall and junior
Alonzo Beckett (Hartford, Conn.) each added 13 points. Billings led the Huskies with 16 points, and
Tredwell added 13.
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Wednesday, December 10, 1997
White Mules Overpower Huskies
GORHAM, Maine -- Junior James Spidle (North Easton, Mass./Oliver Ames) scored a
game-high 19 points to lead the Colby College White Mules (5-1) to an easy 78-51 win over of the
University of Southern Maine Huskies (1-6) in a men's college basketball contest Wednesday night
at the Warren G. Hill Gymnasium.
Colby took control of the game at both ends from the outset, holding the Huskies to just three
baskets during the first 15 minutes of play. Spidle and sophomore Ken Allen (Monson, Maine/
Bangor H.S.) paced the White Mules with eight and ten points, respectively, as the lead grew to 29-
6 before the Huskies could put together a short run. Colby had a 34-18 lead at the half.
Southern Maine was ice cold to start the second half as the White Mules put the game away.
The lead peaked at 29 points on a number of occasions.
Allen finished with 16 points for the Mules. Senior Andrew McCullough (Westbrook,
Maine) had 11 points and seven assists, and junior Bill Hinton (Austin, Texas) had 10 points and
a game-high 11 rebounds for Colby.
Southern Maine, which shot just 33 percent for the game, was paced by juniors Mike
Ellerbrook (Northampton, Mass.) with 12 points and Aaron Tredwell (Cumberland, Maine) with
10 points.
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Tuesday, December 2, 1997
Smith Leads Polar Bears Past Huskies, 57-53
GORHAM, Maine -- Sophomore Wil Smith (Brunswick, Maine) hit a three-point field goal
with 48 seconds left in regulation to snap a 53-53 tie and lead the Bowdoin College Polar Bears
(3-1) to a hard-fought 57-53 victory over the University of Southern Maine Huskies (1-4) in men's
college basketball action at the Warren G. Hill Gymnasium Tuesday night.
Smith's three-point basket and free throw with 10 seconds capped a 10-1 Polar Bear run
over the final 2:23 to wipe out a 52-46 USM lead.
USM, which was held without a basket for the first 14 minutes of the game, clawed back into
the game and took its first lead (48-46) of the night on a basket by junior Aaron Tredwell
(Cumberland, Maine/Greely HS) with 6:30 left to play. Tredwell and freshman Travis Gilmore
(Kingfield, Maine/Mt. Blue HS) added baskets to increase the lead to 52-46 with just under five
minutes to play.
Tredwell and Smith tied for game-high scoring honors tossing in 16 apiece. Junior Mike
Ellerbrook (Northampton, Mass.) had 15 points for the Huskies while junior David Lovely (Milton,
Mass./B.C. High) added 13 for the Polar Bears.
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Sunday, November 30, 1997
Huskies Snap Long Losing Streak
Rout Maine Maritime in Final Day Action at The Maine Event
BANGOR, Maine -- Five players scored in doubles figures as the
University of Southern Maine Huskies men's basketball team snapped its 29-
game losing streak by defeating the Maine Maritime Academy Mariners, 104-
44, in the seventh place game of the Fourth Annual Hancock Lumber Maine
Event being played at Husson College.
The Huskies, who had not won since beating UMass Boston on February
13, 1996, are now 1-3 on the season. They will play their first home game of the
season Tuesday night (Dec. 2) against Bowdoin College. The win was the first
for USM head coach Dan Costigan after 27 losses since being named to
replace Al Sokaitis last year. Maine Maritime drops to 2-3 on the season.
USM trailed 6-5 before going on a 19-0 run over a span 4:25 to take a
commanding 24-6 lead midway through the first half. The lead continued to
grow throughout the remainder of the half. The Huskies used all 15 players on
the way to a 58-14 lead at the break.
The Mariners were no match for the Huskies as the margin continued to
grow in the second half, peaking at 66 points (101-35) with six minutes to play.
Senior Frank Billings led the Huskies with 15 points on five three-point
field goals. Freshman Eric Lewis contributed 14 points while freshman Jason
Daly added 11 and junior captain Mike Ellerbrook and sophomore transfer Jake
Johnson each had 10 points.
Matt Ketcham led Maine Maritime with 14 points.
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Saturday, November 29, 1997
No Luck for Huskies Against UMPI
BANGOR, Maine -- Junior Brian Coleman and sophomore Jeff Joseph
combined to score 41 points to lead the University of Maine Presque Isle Owls
to an 86-79 victory over the University of Southern Maine Huskies in second
day action at the Fourth Annual Hancock Lumber MAINE EVENT being played
at Husson College.
The consolation bracket game featured eight lead changes and six ties
before UMPI pulled away as Joseph scored 12 of his 19 points during a critical
14-6 run late in the second half. The key stretch turn a two-point Husky lead
(65-63) with eight minutes to play into a six-point lead for UMPI (77-71) with just
1:17 left.
Coleman hit seven of eight free throws, part of his game-high 22 points,
in the final minute to kill any hopes of a Husky comeback.
The hard-fought first half saw neither team lead by more than seven
points and end up in a 40-40 tie. UMPI raced out to a nine-point lead (51-42) to
open the second half as Coleman hit two three-point field goals, followed by
another trifecta by sophomore Matt Townsend.
The Huskies stay within range until going on a 9-0 spurt of their own to
retake the lead at 63-61 on an old-fashion three-point play by freshman Travis
Gilmore. After junior Matt Kay tied the game for theOwls, senior Frank Billings,
who had a team-high 22 points, gave USM its last lead hitting two free throws
before Joseph took over.
The loss drops the Huskies to 0-3 on the season, and extends their
losing streak to 29 games dating back to February 1996. USM will try to break
the long drought against Maine Maritime Academy in the seventh place game
tomorrow. The win improves the Owls' record to 3-4 and moves UMPI into the
fifth place game Sunday against the University of Maine Machias.
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Friday, November 28, 1997
Veteran Braves Prove Too Much For Inexperienced Huskies
BANGOR, Maine -- The Husson College Braves went on a 24-9 run over
the final 7:36 of the first half to take command and never looked back in
defeating the University of Southern Maine Huskies, 90-74, in first round action of
the Fourth Annual Hancock Lumber MAINE EVENT being played at Husson.
The win moves Husson into the championship bracket semfinals of the
three-day, eight-team tournament against the University of Maine Farmington.
Southern Maine moves into the consolation bracket against UMaine Presque
Isle, a 71-59 loser to UMF.
In the other half of the tournament bracket, St. Joseph's College
demolished the University of Maine Machias, 121-79, and Colby College
trounced Maine Maritime Academy, 113-60, in the other two first round games.
Leading by three (20-17) with 7:50 to play in the half, the host Braves, led
by junior Sean Foye, who had a game-high 18, went on their big run to
establish a 44-26 half-time lead. Foye had nine straight points during one
stretch for the Braves.
USM never got closer than 13 in the second half. The Huskies were led
by sophomore transfer Jake Johnson with 13 points. Freshman Travis Gilmore
chipped in with 10.
Juniors Mike McCaffery and Michael Dyt each contributed 14 points, and
newcomer Jared Rivers had 12 for the Braves.
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Saturday, November 22, 1997
Huskies' Second Half Comeback Bid Falls Short
NORTH DARTMOUTH, Mass. -- Down by as many as 17 points in the second
half, the University of Southern Maine Huskies men's basketball team staged a
spirited comeback effort only to fall short to the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth
Corsairs, 84-81, in the season opening game for both teams. The game also was the
Little East Conference opener for both teams.
The loss was the 27th straight for the Huskies dating back to February 1996. The
Corsairs, the defending Little East Conference regular season and tournament
champions, have beaten the Huskies 14 straight games since USM posted a 116-69
win in January 1992.
Trailing by ten at half-time, the Huskies cut the deficit to six points with 14 minutes
to play in regulation. The Corsairs used a 10-2 run, keyed by junior Keith Howell's
(Boston, Mass.) four points, over a three-minute span to take an apparently comfortable
67-50 lead with ten minutes to play.
USM, behind the inside play of junior forward Aaron Tredwell (Cumberland,
Maine) and the long-range three-point shooting of senior guard Frank Billings
(Concord, N.H.), went on an 18-2 run to get back within one (69-68). Billings had three
three-point field goals and Tredwell contributed six points during the run.
The Huskies got within one twice in the final two minutes, and Billings had a three-
point shot at the buzzer to try and force overtime, but could not convert.
Tredwell finished the game with 20 points and 15 rebounds. Billings finished with
20 points, including six three-pointers. Freshman center Travis Gilmore (Kingfield, Maine/
Mt. Blue HS) had 14 points, all in the second half, and seven rebounds. Gilmore played
only two minutes in the first half after picking up two quick fouls.
UMD junior guard Jason Antonio (Mattapoisett, Mass.) led all scorers with 26 points.
Junior forward Tony Moreira (Pawtucket, R.I.) had 22 points and a team-high 10 rebounds.
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