SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (December 5, 2015) - Junior guard Mike Gelineau (Waltham, Mass.) erupted for a game and career-high 34 points, but the University of New England held off Western New England University for a 77-68 victory this afternoon in Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) men's basketball action at the Alumni Healthful Living Center.
 
Gelineau was on fire all game, hitting 11-of-21 shots, including 7-of-13 from three-point range and 5-of-7 from the free throw line, while also pulling down five rebounds. Freshman guard Mikey Pettway (Bridgeport, Conn.) posted his fourth consecutive double-figure scoring effort and fifth overall this season with ten points to go with five rebounds, and senior forward Tizauni Boyles (Lynn, Mass.) chipped in with six points and six boards in 16 minutes off the bench.
 
Sophomore guard Drew Coveney (Londonderry, N.H.) led a balanced UNE offense with a team-high 15 points on 5-of-10 shooting, making 5-of-9 foul shots to go with seven rebounds and four assists. Senior Devin Thompson (Winthrop, Mass.) finished with 14 points and seven rebounds, while junior CJ Autry (Standish, Maine) recorded 12 points, seven boards and three assists.
 
Western New England shot 46.4% (13-of-28) from the floor in the first half, but made just 36.7% (11-of-30) of its shots over the final 20 minutes for an overall clip of 41.4%. The Golden Bears took care of the ball all game, turning it over just seven times. The Nor'easters posted a 48.2 (27-of-56) shooting percentage, and held a 38-14 advantage in points in the paint.
 
Gelineau provided the offense for Western New England early, knocking down his first three shots from beyond the arc as the Golden Bears held a 9-6 edge at the 15:43 mark. The Nor'easters scored 12 of the next 14 points, however, eventually extending their lead to nine (28-19) on a three-pointer by sophomore Gavin Dibble (Greenport, N.Y.) with 5:27 left in the half. Western New England was able to trim its deficit to four (37-33) by the break as Boyles and Pettway scored four points each over the final 3:12 of the half.
 
Coveney and Thompson each converted layups early in the second half, helping UNE extend its advantage back to nine, and the visitors' lead would not dip below five until Gelineau knocked down a pair of free throws with 11:58 left in the game. The Golden Bears continued to battle, cutting their deficit to one on a jumper Pettway three and a half minutes later, but that would be as close as they got the rest of the way.
 
Gelineau kept Western New England in the contest, connecting from beyond the arc with 5:33 on the clock and adding a free throw on the Golden Bears' next possession to cut the deficit to three, but Coveney continued to make shots and sink his free throws down the stretch to seal the win for the Nor'easters.
 
Both teams will be back in action on Tuesday night, as Western New England (1-5, 0-2 CCC) hosts Roger Williams University, and the Nor'easters hit the road for a contest at Gordon.