GORHAM, Maine – Sophomore Chance Dixon (Lake Worth, Fla.) scored a game, team and career-high 32 points to lead four Huskies in double figures as the University of Southern Maine defeated Saint Joseph's College (Maine) Monks 86-74 to stop a three-game slide and earn the 2021 Costello Cup.
Dixon was lights out from three-point range in the first half, connecting on his first seven attempts and finished the game 9-for-15 from beyond-the-arc for the 32 points. Dixon had 21 of the Huskies' 43 first half points as USM led SJC 43-40 at the break.
The Records:
Saint Joseph's (1-6)
Southern Maine (4-4)
Series History: Today's contest is the 72nd meeting between the Monks and the Huskies, dating back to the first contest on November 30, 1972 – a 66-62 win for Southern Maine. The Huskies took the last game between the two schools 98-91 on December 1, 2019. USM leads the overall series 37-35.
Costello Cup: Today's contest also marks the 31st game in the Costello Cup series between the two schools. The Costello Cup is presented annually to the winner of the contest between the rival schools and honors the late Dr. Richard "Doc" Costello, former USM Athletic Director and long-time basketball coach for both the men's and women's programs. SJC won the 2018 contest 83-79, while the Huskies claimed the 2019 cup 98-91. SJC leads 18-13. USM has won the last two consecutive.
Standout Huskies: Sophomore Chance Dixon (Lake Worth, Fla.) 32 points, 9-for-15 3FG; 3 rebounds, 3 assists; junior Marcus Christopher (Skowhegan, Maine) 13 points, 6 rebounds; senior Jacobe Thomas (Houston, Texas) 12 points, 6 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal; junior Cody Hawes (Carmel, Maine) 11 points, 5 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 blocked shots.
Standout Monks: Drew Shea (Mount Desert Island, Maine) 16 points, 10 rebounds; Nicholas Curtis (Windham, Maine) 14 points, 5 assists, 4 steals; Julian Llopiz (Boston, Mass.) 18 points, 7-for-11 FG.
How It Happened:
After a turnover to start the game, USM's Dixon sank back-to-back threes to put USM up 6-0 quickly. USM led SJC by nine, 34-25, with just over six minutes to play on a three from sophomore Simon Chadbourne (Westbrook, Maine), but the Monks outscored USM 15-6 over the next five minute to tie the score up at 40. Seven different players scored for the Monks in the run, including Teagan Hynes who scored the equalizer with 1:12 left to play. USM sophomore Owen Williams (Saco, Maine) gave USM the 43-40 lead with a three before the break.
Both teams traded baskets and the lead multiple times to start the second half. Hawes gave USM a slim 66-62 lead with a pair of free throws at 7:23, before SJC's Llopiz made it a one-point game with a three, 66-65, on the Monks' next possession.
Ahead by a single point with just over six minutes to play, USM used a 10-4 run over the next three minutes to open up a critical 76-69 lead with 2:59 to play. Hawes' countered Llopiz' three with a offensive rebound and a put-back and Dixon nailed back-to-back threes around a SJC layup, before another layup from SJC was erased by a pair of free throws from Thomas.
After the USM run, Llopiz made it a two possession game, 76-71, with a layup off of a solid feed from David Keohan on a back door cut at the 2:49 mark, before USM closed the game outscoring SJC 10-3 down the stretch for the win.
Next:
Saint Joseph's will host Great Northeast Athletic Conference rival Albertus Magnus College on Saturday at 3:00 PM.
COURTESTY OF USM SPORTS INFORMATION
