SOUTH PORTLAND, Maine – Southern Maine Community College (SMCC) earned a 66-58 victory over Word of Life in a Yankee Small College Conference (YSCC) matchup at The HUB Athletics Center on Monday night.
SUMMARY
The Seawolves overcame a slow first half offensively to secure their third win of the season. After trailing by as much as seven early, SMCC relied on its rebounding advantage (53-45) and second-chance opportunities (21 points) to stay competitive. A strong second-half highlighted by defensive plays and free throws sealed the victory.
Charlie Houghton (Dixfield, Maine) led the way for SMCC with a double-double, recording 21 points and 22 rebounds. Julius Silva (Biddeford, Maine) added 14 points on 50% shooting from beyond the arc with four three-pointers, while Cole Pulkinen tallied 11 points with 5 assists. Nathan Mugisha (Westbrook, Maine) made a significant impact off the bench with eight points, 14 rebounds, and five blocks.
HOW IT HAPPENED
The first half saw both teams struggling to find a rhythm, but the Seawolves managed to carry a 24-22 lead into halftime. Silva's scoring and Houghton's presence on the boards allowed SMCC to win the half.
In the second half, the Seawolves found their rhythm offensively, shooting 45.5% from the floor. Houghton controlled the paint, while Mugisha's shot blocking disrupted Word of Life's offense within the arc. SMCC stretched its lead to 17 points midway through the second half. Word of Life were able to chip away at the point gap late in the game, capitalizing on last effort fast breaks. However, the Seawolves' added four defensive stops in the final two minutes and knocked down free-throws to secure the 8-point win.
LOOKING AHEAD
The Seawolves (3-13, 2-7 YSCC) aim to carry this momentum into their next YSCC matchup, hosting NHTI on Thursday, January 16. Tip-off is set for 8PM at The HUB Athletics Center.
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