MILTON, Mass. – Third-seeded Curry College built a 20-point first-half lead, then held off sixth-seeded University of New England, 79-73, in The Commonwealth Coast Conference (TCCC) Quarterfinals Tuesday night in Milton. The Colonels (14-12) advance to play at #2 Wentworth in the conference semi-finals on Thursday, February 25 at 7:00 p.m. UNE ends its season at 11-14.

Nor’easters’ sophomore guard Marcus Winn (Austin, TX) scored the first basket of the game, a three-pointer with 19:40 remaining in the first half. Curry senior guard Mark Mastrullo (Billerica, MA) answered with a three-pointer of his own with 18:56 left in the half to tie the game at 3-3. Junior center Rodney Bennett (Mattapan, MA) then gave the Colonels the lead (5-3) by converting a layup at 17:28 and the hosts would lead the rest of the way. The Colonels built their largest lead (20 points) of the half on four different occasions, the last coming on a layup by junior guard Michael D'Amato (Redding, CT) with three seconds left to give Curry a 47-27 advantage at intermission.

The Nor’Easters stormed back in the second half and pulled within one point (71-70) after sophomore forward Quentin Thompson (Austin, TX) hit a three-pointer with 1:37 remaining in regulation. Mastrullo put the Colonels back up by three after he hit a layup down the other end with 27 seconds remaining. Sophomore guard Jarrell Jackson (Brockton, MA) put Curry ahead by five after he stole the ball and converted a layup with just under 20 seconds to go. Sophomore guard Anthony Johnson (Austin, TX) quickly sank a three-pointer for UNE with 12 seconds remaining to pull the visitors to within two (75-73). The Nor’Easters fouled Mastrullo to stop the clock and he sank both free throws to clinch the victory. Curry went on to win, 79-73.

Mastrullo, playing in his school-record 110th game, led the Colonels with 17 points. Junior forward Chris Bonadies (Medfield, MA), senior forward Philippe Jourdain (Cambridge, MA) and junior guard Michael Worrick (North Grafton, MA) each chipped in with 14 points and Jackson added 10. Bonadies led Curry on the boards with seven rebounds.

Johnson led UNE with his team-high 17 points, while Winn contributed 14 and Thompson scored 12. Thompson racked up a double-double with a game-high 15 rebounds.

The win also marked Malcolm Wynn’s 100th career victory as Curry head coach.

Box Score/Play-By-Play