For Immediate Release

February 24, 2004

UMass Dartmouth advances to LEC Tournament
semi-finals with 62-61 win over Eastern Connecticut

(Willimantic, CT) -- Sixth-seeded UMass Dartmouth pulled the upset in the first round of the Little East Conference Men's Basketball Tournament by scoring a 62-61 victory over third-seeded Eastern Connecticut State University in a game played Tuesday night in Willimantic, Connecticut. The victory improves the Corsiars' record to 13-13 overall, while the Warriors of Eastern Connecticut fall to 14-12 overall.

The Corsairs outscored Eastern Connecticut 18-6 over an 8-minute span late in the second half to come away with the victory.  Eastern Connecticut had built a 10-point lead nine minutes into the second half, 52-42, before the Corsairs mounted their comeback.  At the end of the 18-6 run, UMass Dartmouth took its first lead, 60-58 on a jumper by Manny Monteiro with three minutes to play. 

Joey Britto led the Corsairs with 15 points and eight rebounds, while Devon Maiorano and Chris Lapriore (7 rebounds) each scored 12 points. Monteiro added 10 points for the Corsiars.

After losing to Eastern Connecticut twice in the regular season by a total of 3 points, the Corsairs were able to hold on in the final second when the Warriors' Gordon Shephard couldnt hit a jump shot in the lane as time expired and Monteiro grabbed the final rebound. 

The victory moves the Corsairs into the LEC Men's Tournament semi-finals to be played this Friday night, February 27 at 6:00 pm on the campus of top-seeded Keene State College.  UMass Dartmouth will play in the first-semi-final game against Plymouth State University, winners of its first round game against #7 Southern Maine, 75-70.  In the second semi-final round game at 8:00 pm, Keene State College, following an 82-68 first round win over #8 UMass Boston, will square off against #4 Western Connecticut, winners of a 98-94 first round game against #5 Rhode Island College.

Box score
UMASS DARTMOUTH 62, EASTERN CONN. MEN 61
UMASS DARTMOUTH (13-13)
Joseph Britto 5-9 3-4 15; Devon Maiorano 5-12 0-0 12; Chris Lapriore 4-13
4-5 12; Manny Monteiro 4-10 0-0 10; Matt McAuliffe 2-5 2-3 6; Paul Pawlowski
2-5 0-0 4; James Campbell 1-3 1-4 3. Totals 23-57 10-16 62.
EASTERN CONN. MEN (14-12)
Christopher Morgan 6-9 2-2 16; Matt Albon 5-8 0-0 11; Gordon Shepard 3-11
5-7 11; Michael Kipphut 3-7 2-5 8; Jeroy Smith 2-7 3-3 7; Antwoine Key 2-4
0-0 5; Mike Bartunek 1-2 0-0 2; Tim Kinel 0-2 0-0 0. Totals 22-50 13-19 61.
UMass Dartmouth...............   26   36  -   62
EASTERN CONN. MEN.............   31   30  -   61
3-point goals-UMass Dartmouth 6-21 (Manny Monteiro 2-6; Devon Maiorano 2-7;
Joseph Britto 2-3; Paul Pawlowski 0-2; James Campbell 0-1; Matt McAuliffe
0-2), EASTERN CONN. MEN 4-11 (Christopher Morgan 2-4; Matt Albon 1-2;
Antwoine Key 1-1; Mike Bartunek 0-1; Gordon Shepard 0-3). Fouled out--UMass
Dartmouth-None, EASTERN CONN. MEN-None. Rebounds-UMass Dartmouth 34 (Joseph
Britto 8), EASTERN CONN. MEN 30 (Matt Albon 10). Assists-UMass Dartmouth 8
(Josh Adamec 2; Joseph Britto 2), EASTERN CONN. MEN 10 (Christopher Morgan
4). Total fouls-UMass Dartmouth 18, EASTERN CONN. MEN 13. A-300