Quinnipiac University
Maine
Starting Five Score in Double Figures to Lead QU Men's Basketball Past Maine, 81-64
12/29/2014 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
- NEW HAVEN REGISTER: "Quinnipiac men top Maine for third straight win" by Chris Hunn (Dec. 29, 2014)
- BIG APPLE BUCKETS: "Three Thoughts: Quinnipiac 81, Maine 64" by Vincent Simone (Dec. 29, 2014)
HAMDEN, Conn. – The Quinnipiac men's basketball team finished off the 2014 calendar year with an 81-64 victory over the Maine Black Bears Monday night to extend its season long winning streak to three games. The Bobcats never trailed in the victory.
Every member of the starting five finished the game in double-figures for the Bobcats, led by senior Ousmane Drame's (Boston, Mass.) double-double with 20 points and 11 rebounds. It was his conference-leading eighth of the season. Zaid Hearst (Bethesda, Md.) added 15 points and eight rebounds while fellow senior Evan Conti (Bayside, N.Y) filled up the stat sheet with 10 points, six rebounds and four assists.
The Bobcats shot over 50 percent for the game and buckled down defensively, holding the Black bears to 38.7 percent shooting from the field. Quinnipiac outrebounded Maine 42-29 for the game, something it has done in each of its 11 games this season.
A fast start for the home team, Quinnipiac used a 12-0 run to open a 28-11 lead midway through the first half. Maine had just four field goals and was under 20 percent shooting during the spell.
In complete control, a feeling of complacency may have aided the visitors. The Black Bears clawed their way back by way of the three-point line, closing the first half on a 19-5 run. Maine hit five first half threes to help the spurt and managed to cut Quinnipiac's lead to 33-30 by the halftime whistle.
Head coach Tom Moore's speech at the break was a good one, igniting the Bobcats in the second stanza. After trading baskets, Quinnipiac used an 18-4 run to push its lead back to double digits and never looked back. Conti brought the crowd to its feet with a four-point play – his second of the night – and Kasim Chandler (Newark, N.J.) carved Maine's defense to create easy buckets underneath. Chandler matched a career high with eight assists to go along with 10 points and a steal.
Similar to last year, Quinnipiac dominated the paint against an undersized Maine squad. Senior forward Justin Harris (Paterson, N.J.) finished with 10 points, three rebounds and a career high four blocks. 6-foot-8 freshman Chaise Daniels (Meriden, Conn.) added two points, three rebounds and two assists.
James Ford, Jr. (Hopewell, Va.) and Ayron Hutton (Virginia Beach, Va.) chimed in with five and six points, respectively. Spearheaded by the guard position, Quinnipiac compiled 22 assists on 32 field goals by nights end.
Quinnipiac has won five out of its last six against Maine, including last year's 41 point drubbing.
Maine, who fell to 1-11 on the season, was led by Till Gloger with 19 points and six rebounds. Shaun Lawton had 11 points and five assists.
Quinnipiac gears up for the bulk of the MAAC schedule beginning on Friday, Jan. 2 against Saint Peter's. Tip-off is set for 4 p.m. at the TD Bank Sports Center. After that, Quinnipiac is scheduled to play three games in five days - at Iona (1/6), at Monmouth (1/9) and vs. Marist (1/11).
Fans interested in purchasing tickets for the 2014-15 campaign can call the QU Ticket Office at 203-582-3905, visit the official website of Quinnipiac athletics, www.QuinnipiacBobcats.com or make a trip to the TD Bank Sports Center Ticket Office.
Student-athletes, parents and fans can download the QU Athletics schedules to your laptop and mobile devices for free by clicking in the iCalendar link at the bottom of each sport's homepage or the master schedule page. Please follow Quinnipiac Athletics on Facebook and Twitter (@QUAthletics) for all of the latest news and updates.
