SeaWolves Survive and Advance To Meet Host NHTI in men's semifinals

CONCORD, N.H.—The #4 Southern Maine Community College (SMCC) men's basketball team edged the #5 Clippers from the University of Maine at Machias 82-77 in an exciting Yankee Small College Conference (YSCC) Elite 8 quarter-final game at NHTI on Friday, Feb. 16.

The SeaWolves went ahead 21-12 off the tip to take a 10-point lead into the half. It was back-and-forth action with 3:02 remaining with four lead changes on four consecutive buckets. The SeaWolves went 6-6 from the free throw line to finish the game and seal a five-point victory.  

Junior Dylan Silvestri (Pelham, N.H.) led SMCC with 17 points, 16 rebounds, and four steals. Three others finished in double figures for the team wearing white—junior Ryan Cloutier (Pelham, N.H.), and first-years Gregory Trinidad(Lawrence, Mass.) and Jacobee Burpee (Manchester, N.H.) combined for 42.

For the Clippers, Dante Ramos posted a game-high 19 points and big-man Travonne Thompson finished with a double-double, 14 points and 20 rebounds.

Following the game, Assistant Coach AJ Burton commented, "The first postseason tournament game is always the toughest. Our guys did a great job weathering the storm from start to finish despite foul trouble and loosing our leader Dylan in the final couple minutes. We executed the game plan and now look ahead to day two."

Machias concludes its season 11-19 overall.

The SeaWolves survive and advance and earn their 18^th win of the season to play the host and #1 seed NHTI in the Elite 8 semi-final round on Saturday, Feb. 17. Tip is scheduled for 4 p.m.

SMCC dropped both to the Lynx in the regular season series—the SeaWolves look to avenge a six-point defeat on NHTI's home floor in day two of the three-day tournament. WATCH: https:/www.nsnsports.net

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