Machias upsets UMA to advance to semi-finals

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AUBURN, Maine - Fifth-seeded University of Maine Machias pulled off the only upset Friday night, knocking off fourth-seeded University of Maine at Augusta 66-56 in the first round of the Yankee Small College Conference Elite Eight Tournament hosted by Central Maine Community College. The Clippers advance to play first-seeded College of Saint Joseph's Saturday afternoon at 4:00 p.m.

UMA got off to an incredibly hot start for the game, jumping out to a 10-0 lead in the first five minutes of play before Machias guard Ben Teer (Machias, Maine) put his team on the board with a three-pointer, that was the start of a 13-2 run for the Clippers and to give his team the lead. UMM took a nine point lead thanks to seven points from Teer, who finished with a game-high 27 points on the night.

UMA closed the gap in the final two minutes of the half with six unanswered points. The Moose trailed by as few as eight points with less than ten minutes to go in regulation, but the Clippers had an answer for each run UMA put together. 

YSCC Player of the Year Brandon Rogers (Turlock, Calif.) led the Moose with 20 points and a game-high 18 rebounds on the night, while teammate Keith Chesley (Clinton, Maine) was also in double-digits with 19 points and eight rebounds. 

Jorge Milo (Miami, Fla.) was the only other Clipper in double digits with 17 points Travonne Thompson led UMM in rebounds with 17. 

Neither team shot over 35% from the field, but Machias carried the edge from the floor, shooting 33.8% to UMA's 28.2%. The Clippers took advantage of second chances, scoring 18 second chance points and scoring 21 points off of turnovers while the Moose scored 18 points off of UMM miscues.