SeaWolves Defeat ACPHS With Second Half Push

ALBANY, N.Y.— The Southern Maine Community College men's basketball team won its fourth consecutive game in a non-conference tilt at Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences (ACPHS) 78-76 on Saturday, Dec. 10.

Sophomore Chase Soares (Falmouth, Mass.) led his team with 21 points, 20 in the second half. The 6'0'' guard made seven of 11 from the floor, and four of seven from beyond the arch, in 25 minutes of play. He added six rebounds, four assists, and two steals in his best performance to date this season. Sophomore Ryan Cloutier(Pelham, N.H.) matched his season-high point total with 18, knocking down a season-high six three-pointers. Sophomore Dylan Silvestri (Pelham, N.H.) recorded 11 points on the afternoon, his sixth consecutive game with 10 or more points.

ACPHS held a 10-point advantage, its largest of the game, with five minutes remaining in the first, and would carry a 34-31 lead into the locker room at half time.

With three minutes left in regulation, the SeaWolves trailed the Panthers 73-68. Soares knocked down a three-pointer in the next trip down the floor to cut the deficit to two. ACPHS made two more from the free-throw line before Cloutier brought his team within one on a three-pointer followed by a go-ahead bucket from junior captain John Morgan (Sanford, Maine). Soares would make two more free-throws to extend the SMCC lead and complete the comeback.

The SeaWolves shot 45 percent from the floor and made a season-high 13 three-pointers.

Assistant Coach AJ Burton commented on SMCC's performance, "It was the best game we played as a team for 40 minutes. We took Albany's best punch and withstood it by everyone contributing."

The SeaWolves improve to 12-2 overall and remain 6-1 in Yankee Small College Conference (YSCC) play, second in the North Division standings.

The action continues when the SeaWolves clash with YSCC divisional rival Central Maine Community College, the only unbeaten team in conference play, on Wednesday, Dec. 14 in Auburn, Maine. Tip-off is scheduled for 8 p.m.

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