Men's Basketball Drops CNE Road Game, 68-59
Biddeford, ME - Curry College men's basketball led at the break but could not hold off a second-half surge from the Nor'Easters, falling 68–59 to the University of New England at the Harold Alfond Forum.
The Colonels came out strong, building momentum early behind strong interior play and active rebounding, en route to taking a 37-31 halftime lead. Jake Bernardo anchored the frontcourt, scoring efficiently and pulling down rebounds on both ends, while Jeremiah Predin paced the offense.
Curry's defensive effort was also a key factor in the first half, limiting UNE's looks. Manny Hidalgo was impactful on both ends, filling the stat sheet with rebounds, assists, and steals.
UNE flipped the script after the break, tightening defensively and finding its rhythm offensively. The Nor'easters outscored Curry 37–22 in the second half, using improved three point shooting and converting at the free throw line. As Curry's shooting cooled, UNE began captured the lead and were able to hold off the Colonels late in the win.
Predin finished with a game-high 19 points, but Curry struggled to convert from long range and at the foul line. Bernardo added 13 points and 11 rebounds for a double-double, while Hidalgo recorded 12 rebounds and six assists to go along with seven points, providing a strong all-around performance.
For the Nor'Easters, they used balanced scoring from their starting lineup, with four out of five finishing in double figures. Each starter for UNE also snatched five or more rebounds, which further demonstrated the team effort.
Up Next: The Colonels take nearly a week hiatus as they will host the Golden Bears of Western New England Tuesday, February 3rd.
