Hanlon double-double in final collegiate game

BIDDEFORD, Maine -- Devin Thompson topped all scorers with 22 points to help the University of New England men's basketball team record an 81-71 victory over Salve Regina University in Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) action on Saturday afternoon (Feb. 20) at the Harold Alfond Forum.

The Nor'easters finish the regular season at 13-12 (8-10 CCC). The loss drops the Seahawks' record to 9-16 (6-12 CCC) and out of postseason contention.

After being honored as the lone senior for Big Blue, Thompson got off to a fast start, knocking down four treys in the first half. After falling behind 17-15 with 10:41 remaining, UNE went on an 11-1 run over the next three minutes to take their largest lead of the half (26-18).

As a team in the opening frame, The Nor'easters shot 48 percent from the floor (44 percent from three-point range) to build a five point cushion at the half.

Big Blue stayed hot to start the second period, starting off with an 11-2 run over the first 3:12, fueled by back-to-back three-pointers from CJ Autry, to extend their lead to 14.

An SRU layup by Barrett Hanlon with 4:04 remaining in the game cut the lead to just four, but that's the closest the visitors would get for the remainder of the contest.

Thompson dropped in a game-high 22 points on 6-13 shooting from downtown while also grabbing five rebounds. Autry shot 4-5 from the three-point line on his way to 18 points, as well as pulling down a team-high eight rebounds.

Matt Lettick and Blake Swanson also reached double figures in scoring for the home team, with 13 and 10 points, respectively. Drew Coveney packed the stat sheet with seven points, six rebounds, and six assists.

For the visitors, Barrett Hanlon posted a double-double with a team-high 21 points (9-16 from the field) and a game-high 11 rebounds. Rodney Morton chipped in 15 points (12 in the second half) and Nicholas Bates tallied 12 points and six rebounds for the Seahawks.

The Nor'easters will travel to Wentworth Institute of Technology on Tuesday for a CCC quarterfinal matchup at 7 p.m.