Jesse Smith
Posted: Jan 26, 2014
PRESQUE ISLE, Maine – Junior Jesse Smith (Troy, NY) nailed a three-pointer with 45 seconds remaining and sophomore Keith Chesley (Clinton, Maine) dropped a pair of free-throws to help the University of Maine at Augusta men's basketball team seal a critical 74-71 Yankee Small College Conference win Sunday afternoon against Northern Maine Community College. The win is the third in four games for the Moose, who improved to 4-7 in the conference.
The Moose led by as many as 11 points in the first half, and were up by nine heading into the locker room, but the Eagles went on a 11-2 run late in the second half, highlighted by six points from Matt Till , to give them a 68-65 lead with 3:49 remaining in regulation. UMA pulled within one on a pair of free throws from Tevon Erwin (Albany, NY) at 1:28, but NMCC quickly answered with a three-point play from Matt McGlinn to stay ahead by two. Smith then answered with the triple to put the Moose up 72-71 and Chesley followed with two free-throws to ensure the 74-71 win.
Head coach Jim Ford's team was led by Brandon Rogers (Turlock, Ca.) and Chesley, who each turned in a double-double performance in points and rebounds, as the Moose out-rebounded the Eagles 53-29. Rogers netted a team-high 22 points and 17 rebounds, while Chesley scored 18 and grabbed 16 boards. Smith was also in double-digits for UMA, going 6-12 from the field for 13 points.
UMA returns to conference action Friday, when they play Hampshire College at Southern Maine Community College at 8:00 pm.