Posted: Dec 06, 2013
The University of Maine at Farmington men's basketball team posted a 86-59 North Atlantic Conference win over Johnson State, Friday night at Dearborn Gym.
The Beavers (4-2, 2-0 NAC) hauled down 21 offensive rebounds that led to 24 second-chance points, and finished the game with a 53 to 26 advantage in total rebounds.
Coupled with 47.1 percent (33-of-70) shooting from the field that was fairly consistent throughout the entire game, UMaine-Farmington was able to overcome a sluggish start and build a 17-point lead by halftime.
Senior Nate Carson paced the Beavers with 15 points, leading a quartet of players in double figures. Seniors Ben Johnson (Manchester, Maine/Maranacook) and Garrett Clemmer had 11 and 10 points respectively, with Johnson turning his second double-double of the season with 10 rebounds.Junior Uriah Forest-Bulley came off the bench to add 12 points for Farmington.
Bryan Hickey paced Johnson State offensively with 11 points and a team-high seven boards, while Ron Adrian chipped in 10 points. The Badgers Asim Khan, who entered the game as the NAC's leading scorer averaging 21 points per game, was held to eight points on 1-of-8 shooting from the floor.
The two teams traded the lead four times and were tied five times over the first 12 minutes of the game, before a 18-0 Farmington run left the Beavers with a 34-19 lead with 3:48 left in the half. Three jumpers by Hickey down the stretch in the opening frame gave a little life to the Badgers' bench, but Johnson State went into the intermission trailing by 17.
Johnson State (2-3, 0-2 NAC) was held scoreless over the first five minutes of the second half, while UMaine-Farmington added 11 to its lead. Three-pointers by Andrew Dickey, Carson, and Pet Sumner fueled the run, which extended UMF's lead to 54-26.
UMaine-Farmington briefly stretched its lead to 33 points, 64-31 with 11:46 remaining, after a traditional three-point play by Clemmer and a Dickey foul shot. Johnson State narrowed the lead, but did not cut the deficit to under 20 points over the remainder of the game.
UMaine-Farmington continues the home stand on Saturday, Dec. 7, when it hosts Lyndon State College at 1:00 p.m. at Dearborn Gym. Johnson State is also in action on Saturday, traveling to Thomas College in Waterville for a 1:00 p.m. contest.