SeaWolves Topple UMA Despite Bragg's Monster Effort

SOUTH PORTLAND, Maine- The #2-ranked Southern Maine Community College (SMCC) men's basketball team defeated the #7 Moose of the University of Maine at Augusta (UMA) 101-67 in the quarter-final game of the Yankee Small College Conference (YSCC) Elite Eight Tournament. 

Both sophomore Ryan Cloutier (Pelham, N.H.) and junior John Morgan (Sanford, Maine) recorded 18 points in the contest on 8-17 from the floor, Morgan adding nine rebounds in his efforts. Sophomore Keanyon Lambert (Manchester, N.H.) notched a season-high 14 points, as first-year Anderson Kavutse (Westbrook, Maine) contributed 11. 

UMA's Dustin Simpson-Bragg (Fairfield, Maine) led all scorers in the game, well exceeding his conference-best points per game with 43. Jordan Holmes (Oakland, Maine) also finished in double digits for the Moose netting 14.

Cloutier set the tone on the SeaWolves' first trip down the floor with a one-handed dunk to give his team the lead- a lead they would hold on to for the entirety. The SMCC offense was fluid from the start, beginning with a 13-3 run off the tip. The SeaWolves would go on to post 53 points on 48.8 percent shooting in the first half.

Bragg helped keep pace in the second half, burying four three-pointers as the Moose made their best effort to chip away at their deficit. Assisting on 25 of 42 buckets, SMCC cracked 100 points for the fourth time this season to capture the 34-point win.

View the photo gallery of the game HERE.

The SeaWolves will advance to take on the winner of #3 Central Maine Community College vs. #6 University of Maine at Machias in the semi-final round on Saturday, Feb. 18. Tip-off is scheduled for 6 p.m. at the HUB Gymnasium. 

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