MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. - The UMass Dartmouth men's basketball team shouldered a narrow 70-69 loss in the opening game of the 2024 Cruzin Classic on Friday morning against Carroll University from the Fernandez Family Center hosted by St. Thomas University. The Corsairs are now 5-3 on the season with the loss to the Pioneers who improved to 3-7 overall record.
Junior Can Dunbury got the Corsairs on the scoreboard with his hook shot off the assist from classmate John Marcille to even the game up at 2-2. The Pioneers then went on a 7-0 run kicked off by a Kobe Simpson triple to give Carroll a 9-2 advantage. Shortly after graduate student Isaac Percy posted his first pair of baskets for UMass Dartmouth, the Corsairs climbed their way back thanks to back-to-back three pointers from first year Danny Reyes to put the team up 15-13.
Eckahelo Simpson tied the score at 15-apiece with his layup at the 8:42 mark, but Percy quickly answered by knocking down two triples in a row for the Corsairs. The Pioneers regained a brief 23-21 edge after Erik Victorson made both free throws until the Corsairs generated a late 11-4 run in the final five minutes of the first half to take a 32-27 lead at the break.
Carroll came out strong to start the second half going on a 7-0 run to go ahead 34-32 in the opening two minutes of play, respectively. Dunbury evened the game up with his layup followed by a good jumper from junior Josh Lopes to regain the lead. Percy finished a pair of and-one plays for UMass Dartmouth to knot it up at 43-apiece.
Victorson gave the Pioneers a 52-45 edge entering the last 10 minutes of the game. First year Camden DiChiara and Marcille each drained a triple to put the Corsairs within two points of the Pioneers. After Reyes evened the game at 53-53, UMass Dartmouth strung together six points to claim a 59-55 advantage.
Carroll battled back to regain a 62-59 before Percy disrupted them with a triple at the 4:07 mark to once again tie the score at 62-apiece. With a 1:10 left on the clock, Reyes clipped in both free throws to put UMass Dartmouth up 69-65. Carroll however made five late points including a three-pointer by Victorson with 13 seconds remaining in the game to cement the Pioneers 70-69 victory.
Percy led the offense dropping a team-high 26 points featuring 4-of-7 three-pointers made along with eight rebounds and two assists. Reyes also scored in double figures with 14 points, five rebounds, and a pair of assists.
UMass Dartmouth are back in action tomorrow, Saturday, Dec. 21st for their final game of the Cruzin Classic facing Montclair State University at 4:00 p.m.
