Box Score BIDDEFORD, Maine--Senior co-captain Curt Heinz scored a game-high 30 points, including two crucial free throws with 19 seconds left, as the Maine Maritime Academy men's basketball team withstood a furious University of New England rally attempt to edge the host Nor'Easters, 82-79, on Saturday in the opening game of the Jim Beaudry Classic at Harold Alfond Forum. The Mariners start a season 3-0 for the first time 2002, while UNE falls to 1-2.

Maine Maritime Highlights

• Heinz also led all student-athletes with 17 rebounds and he added five assists and two steals. He made 11 of 15 field goal attempts and a perfect 6-for-6 from the free throw line.
• Sophomore Jack Banks poured in a career-high 20 points on 9-for-13 field goal shooting and tied his personal-record of eight rebounds.
• Senior Markus Ramirez also scored in double-digits with 12 points.
• Junior Josiah Dancy (4 points) had a game-high-tying seven assists before fouling out in the second half.

UNE Highlights

• Adrian Torres led the team with 21 points, produced nine steals and dished seven assists.
• Jaelen Jackson chipped in 15 points off the bench, plus he had eight rebounds and six assists.
• Kha Cao Rá James also had a double-double with 13 points and 11 rebounds.
• Adam Lux contributed 12 points.

How it Happened

• After leading 41-36 at the intermission, the Mariners rebuilt their lead to double-digits at 74-61 with 4 minutes and 36 seconds left in the game.
• But UNE went on an 18-6 scoring run over a 4:10 span to cut the deficit to 80-79 on pair of James free throws with 26 seconds remaining. Allen keyed the rally with 11 points.
• After Heinz made his two free throws, the Nor'Easters had a final possession to try to send the game into overtime but the Mariners' perimeter defense did an excellent job of forcing a long three-point attempt that fell short of the rim.
• UNE made things interesting by taking advantage of a season-high 30 MMA turnovers, scoring 31 points.
• The Nor'Easters had their only lead on the first basket after the opening tip.
• Maine Maritime led by as many as 14 points, 37-23, at the 4:44 mark of the first half. A layup by junior Kaden Horner at 11:57 sparked the Mariners run when they led at 17-14 at the time.
• UNE eventually closed the gap to five points by the break.
• The Mariners outrebounded the Nor'Easters 46-32.
• Maine Maritime held the opponent to a .418 field goal percentage.

Inside the Boxscore

• The 2002-03 squad started 4-0.
• The Mariners notched season highs tonight points (82), field goal percentage (.544; 31-57), assists (17) and free throw percentage (.765; 13-17).
• UNE leads the all-time series 22-2, but MMA has won two of the last three meetings while earning their first-ever victory on the Nor'Easters home court.

Next Up

• Maine Maritime will play in the Classic championship at 3 p.m. Sunday against the Mitchell/Salve Regina winner.