Men’s Basketball Holds off Maine Farmington in Season Opener, 75-72

FARMINGTON, Maine – Suffolk men's basketball began its 80th season in the win column behind a 75-72 victory at Maine Farmington Saturday at Dearborn Gymnasium. 

THE BASICS
SCORE: Suffolk 75 | Maine Farmington 72
RECORDS: Suffolk (1-0) | Maine Farmington (0-1) 

HOW IT HAPPENED

• Suffolk poured in the first eight points of the contest to hold a near identical cushion, 18-11, seven minutes into action. 
• That seven-point margin remained in the Rams' favor, 41-34, at halftime. 
• The blue-and-gold clung to a two-possession lead, 50-44, in the first five minutes into the second stanza, before Jeff Juron called a timeout. 
• Out of the huddle, the Beavers battled back and managed to even things at 52-all with 13:11 left on the clock in regulation. 
• A back-and-forth affair ensued as the foes went nearly hoop-for-hoop the rest of the way. 
• Suffolk never relinquished the upperhand though as it sat in front, 75-72, with less than a minute to play. 
• Maine Farmington had a chance to tie things at the buzzer, but Jason Reynolds triple was off the mark, which allowed the blue-and-gold to walk away with the win. 

STATISTICALLY SPEAKING

• James Jones led Suffolk's scoring with a 20-point performance on a 9-for-14 showing from the floor. The freshman was one board shy of a double-double with nine caroms, to go along with two helpers, one steal and one block. 
• Jones' classmate Marquis White supplied 15 points behind a 6-for-13 effort from the field. The guard's stat line featured three caroms, two dimes and one takeaway as well. 
• Nick Verdile produced 14 points, seven handouts and four rebounds. 
• Harrison Neil was a spark off the bench as he added 11 points, six boards, four dimes and two steals. 
• Suffolk shot 46.8 percent (29-62) on the afternoon including a 40.0 percent (10-25) effort from 3-point land and a 77.8 percent (7-9) performance at the line. 
• The Rams outrebounded the Beavers, 36-30. 

NOTEWORTHY

• Since 1967-68, Suffolk is .500 (29-29) in the first game of the season. 
• The Rams have pulled the curtain back in the win column in nine straight seasons. 
• The blue-and-gold is now 9-2 in season openers in the Jeff Juron era. 
• Suffolk played on the road in an opener for the second time in three seasons. 
• Suffolk is 8-11 on the road in its season debut dating through 1967-68. 
• Suffolk and Maine Farmington met for the third time Saturday. 
• The Rams jumped ahead in the series, 2-1, with its second consecutive triumph over the Beavers. 
• The blue-and-gold played at Maine Farmington for the first time in program history.
• All three battles in the series have come with Juron on the bench. 
• White, Jones, Hatcher Nordquist and Aston Whittingham made their collegiate debuts. 
• Neil played in a Suffolk game for the first time in his collegiate career.  

WHAT'S NEXT?
Suffolk will open its home schedule Wednesday, Nov. 12 when it entertains Colby Sawyer at 7:30 p.m.