Men’s Basketball Squeaks out Season Opener

Men’s Basketball Squeaks out Season Opener

Cam MacDonald

For The Clock

cpm1011@plymouth.edu

It took not only a team effort, but getting back to the fundamentals for the Plymouth State Panthers Men’s Basketball team to triumph over the Thomas College Terriers in their season opener, winning on the road 77-71. Junior Curtis Arsenault led the Panther attack, netting the gamehigh 19 points (8-of-15 shooting) and pulling down six rebounds.

The first half was back and forth play for each squad keeping the game very interesting and up beat.  The Terriers kept the Panthers on their toes for the majority of the first half, as they opened the scoring with a Mike Akanji three pointer. PSU was able to get on the board and attain a lead, when Jack Preston (Nashua, NH) hit a three pointer, the score 6-5 after 3:13. Nice while it lasted, Mike Akanji then hit another three pointer to re-attain the lead for the Terriers. The Terriers led by as many as four up until Curtis Arsenault (Berlin, NH) made a lay up to tie the game at 15’s with 12:46 remaining in the first half.

The Terriers used a 10-2 scoring spew to claim the biggest lead of the night at nine points with a little over 5:00 to play in the first half. However, the Panthers closed on an 11-3 run to bring them back in range 31-32 at the intermission.  Breakout performances led by Arsenault, Preston and Uche Nwokeji (Lynn, Mass) combined for 8 of the 11 points, all in the paint, while junior Nathan Clarke (Reading, Mass) added a three-point jumper for the Panthers in the first.

The Panthers took complete and utter control early on in the second half, using a 12-0 spew to turn a 41-39 deficit into a 51-41 lead with 12:23 left to play. The trio of Arsenault, Preston and Nwokeji did nearly all the damage as they led the scoring; each had four points during the stretch.  After a Terrier basket, Preston again pushed the lead to double-figures, (53-43), shot with exactly 10:00 remaining. The Terriers continued to test the panthers defense, cutting the Panther lead back to two points on three separate occasions. However, the Panthers were able to stay consistent, and strong from the foul line to close out the victory. 

The Panthers, led by as many as ten points in the second half, saw the lead cut to just two, 71-69, after Terriers junior Tyheem Simon sank a three-pointer with 55 seconds remaining. Sticking to the fundamentals the Panthers connected on all six free throw attempts. Two by sophomore Brian Boulay (Keene, NH), along with pairs from Preston and Uche Nwokeji to close out the tilt, and divert a Terriers comeback rally.

Jack Preston added 18 points (7-of-12) and six boards, while Uche Nwokeji was good for 15 points (6-of11) and a game-high eight rebounds. Tyheem Simon led Thomas with 16 points, struggling from the field connecting on just 4-of-11 shots.  Senior Levi Barnes added 14 points, while Mike Akanji added 10 points, and six boards.  Sophomore Carlos Gonzalez was the fourth Terrier in double-figures, netting 10 points while grabbing team-high seven rebounds.

PSU was able too lead in rebounds (35-32), assists (13-10) and turnovers (18-20), second chance points (19-13), and points in the paint (36-32). Plymouth State returned to the floor on Tuesday to square off with long time rival Rivier University in the Boys & Girls Club Classic held at NHTI in Concord (8:00 p.m.).