Balanced Offense Paces Men’s Basketball to 90-80 Win over Southern Maine

WATERVILLE, Maine – Four double figure scorers headlined by a 29-point performance from Marquis White sent Suffolk men's basketball to a 90-80 win over Southern Maine at the Colby Classic Saturday afternoon at the Margaret M. Crook Center.  

THE BASICS
SCORE: Suffolk 90 | Southern Maine 80
RECORDS: Suffolk (4-2) | 2-3)  

HOW IT HAPPENED

• Suffolk's early 22-16 advantage quickly vanished as the Huskies poured in eight unanswered to flip the script in their favor, 23-22, at the 11:02 mark of the first. 
• The score tied twice from there and the lead switched five times with the last coming with 7:50 to play before halftime when Harrison Neil put away his second trye of the day to give the Rams a 32-31 edge.
• The blue-and-gold controlled things the rest of the opening half as it went on a 16-6 half-ending run to go into the locker room ahead, 48-37. 
• Nick Verdile was how out of the break as he buried three triples to spark 14-4 Suffolk span that gave the blue-and-gold its largest lead of the day, 62-41, 4:24 into the second stanza. 
• The Rams kept Southern Maine at a double-digit distance the rest of the way to walk away with the 90-80 victory. 

STATISTICALLY SPEAKING

• White finished with a game-high 29 points behind a 10-for-14 effort from the floor that included a 4-for-5 showing from downtown. The freshman floor general added six helpers and three rebounds. 
• Verdile produced 21 points behind a 7-for-16 performance from the field. The junior guard's stat line featured two caroms, one dime and one takeaway as well. 
• Neil notched 19 points off the bench as the junior shot 6-for-9 on the day and 3-for-4 from behind-the-arc. He added five boards, four handouts and one steal.
• Connor Strickland rounded out the double figure scorers with 11 points behind a 5-for-6 field goal percentage. 
• The Huskies held a narrow 26-25 edge in rebounds. 
• Both teams converted 16 points off turnovers. 
• Southern Maine put away eight points thanks to second chances.  

NOTEWORTHY

• Suffolk and Southern Maine met for the first time. 
• White rewrote personal-best in points (29), field goals made (10) and 3-point field goals made (4).
• Neil notched career-highs in points (19) and field goals made (6) and tied a personal-best three 3-pointers made.
• Strickland recorded career bests in points (11) and field goals made (5).  

WHAT'S NEXT?
Suffolk concludes its first month of play Tuesday, Nov. 25 when Emerson stops by Larry E. and Michael S. Smith Court for a 4:00 p.m. Boston battle.