BIDDEFORD, Maine - Curry College scored the game's final six points and 15 of the last 19 to pull out a 76-71 Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) men's basketball victory against the University of New England on Wednesday evening (Jan. 22) at the Harold Alfond Forum.

The Colonels (3-12, 2-7 CCC) had led by just one point on three occasions before the closing stretch, but made enough of their free throws while the Nor'easters failed to score the last two minutes to secure the decision.

Leading the way for the visitors was senior Lambros Papalambros (Quincy, Mass.) with a match-best 24 points to go with seven rebounds, helping the squad to a 40-29 cushion on the boards. Junior Antonio Jones (Swampscott, Mass.) added 20 points, and senior Carlos Ribeiro (Charlestown, Mass.) notched 15.

Curry recovered from 27 percent shooting in the 1st half with a 52 percent conversion-rate after halftime. The Colonels also out-scored UNE by 14 points at the free throw line, going 28-of-35 on the night.

UNE (1-15, 1-8 CCC) was paced by first-year Justin Pollard (Cape Neddick, Maine) with 23 points, which included five three-pointers. Senior Kurt Steiner (Rutland, Mass.) chipped in with 15 points, and first-year Brayden Morse (Long Beach, Calif.) had 11 points as well as a game-high eight rebounds.

UNE raced out to a 16-point lead midway through the opening period (26-10) behind very efficient shooting. Pollard and Morse each had eight points during the span, as the Nor'easters made 6-of-10 from long range early on.

Steiner hit his second triple of the 1st frame to make it 39-24 with 2:46 left in the stanza, but the hosts missed their final four field goal attempts and committed three turnovers in the remaining time.

Meanwhile, Curry sliced the deficit to six (39-33) at intermission with the last nine points of the period.

UNE maintained the single-digit advantage for the majority of a 2nd half that saw seven lead-changes and five ties. A trey from Pollard bumped the margin to 67-61 with 5:25 to go, before Papalambros and the Colonels surged back. The guard accounted for 11 of his side's final 15 points.

Curry returns home to face Becker College in non-conference action on Thursday (7 p.m.). The Nor'easters get back to action on Saturday (3 p.m.) at Western New England University. (Recap courtesy of UNE Sports Information)