CASTINE--Akhe McMichael scored the go-ahead jumper from close range with five seconds left and forced a turnover moments later as visiting UMaine-Presque Isle stunned Maine Maritime Academy, 67-66, to spoil the Mariners' Senior Day in the North Atlantic Conference men's basketball finale at Smith Gymnasium on Saturday. The Mariners slip to 12-10 overall and 8-5 in the NAC East Division, while the visiting Owls up their record to 19-5 on the season and 9-3 in the NAC-East.

Maine Maritime Highlights

• Senior Curt Heinz recorded a double-double of 31 points and 15 rebounds to top all student-athletes in both categories.
• Classmate Markus Ramirez added 10 points and four rebounds, and tied Heinz for the team lead with six assists.
• Sophomore Jack Banks (5 points, 7 rebounds) led all players with three steals.

UMPI Highlights

• McMichael led the team with 22 points while getting four rebounds, two assists and two steals.
• Saquan Carswell scored 14 points, had three rebounds and made two steals.
• Myles Jones (2 points, 9 rebounds) topped all playmakers with seven assists.
• Gilbert Jean Mendez (5 points, 4 assists) paced the Owls with 14 rebounds.

How it Happened

• Junior Josiah Dancy (9 points, 3 rebounds, 2 steals) scored a fastbreak layup with 5 minutes and 22 seconds left in the game to give MMA a 60-49 lead. That culminated a 23-5 run over a 6:58 span to erase a 44-37 deficit.
• McMichael ignited UMPI's comeback with a trey after Dancy's basket, scoring nine of his team's points in an 18-6 run to finish the game. 
• A pair of Heinz free throws gave MMA a 66-61 lead at the 2:24 mark.
• Carswell, who scored six points during the Owls decisive run, helped UMPI pull within 66-65 at 56 seconds showing on the clock.
• The Owls forced three turnovers in the final minute, including McMichael's steal after his game-winning jumper with the Mariners having the opportunity to get the game's last shot.
• Maine Maritime began the game with an 8-0 scoring run before UMPI eventually came back to take the lead at halftime, 28-26.
• The game featured nine lead changes and three ties.
• The Owls' bench outscored the Mariners', 15-5.
• At the free throw line, UMPI made 9-of-14 for 64.3 percent while MMA was 10-for-15 for 66.7.

Beyond the Boxscore

• Despite the loss, MMA still has its best conference record (8-5) since going 8-6 in 2006-07 and the second-most conference wins since 2004. Last season, the Mariners were 6-8 in NAC play.
• The teams split the regular-season series as MMA upset UMPI, 78-70 in overtime, in Presque Isle on Jan. 25, when the Owls were in a three-way tie for first place in the NAC-East.
• Prior to the game, MMA's four seniors--Carter Rubin, Cameron Kingsbury, Heinz and Ramirez--were honored for their achievements on the court, in the classroom and in the community.

Next Up

• Maine Maritime will close the regular season tomorrow at 3 p.m. with a non-conference encounter against UMaine-Fort Kent at home.