Purcelle’s Free Throw Lifts Men’s Basketball To 60-59 Win Over Husson University

Box Score

CHICOPEE, Mass. – Elms College sophomore guard Brittain Purcelle (Tarrytown, N.Y.) nailed the back-end of two free throws with four seconds remaining to help the Blazers win a thriller over Husson University, 60-59 in the opening game of the 2010 Blazer Tip-Off men's basketball tournament on Saturday evening at Picknelly Arena.

With the win, Elms begins its 2010-11 season 1-0, while Husson moves to 1-1 overall.

St. Joseph's College (Long Island) won its contest against the University of New England (UNE), 101-66 to improve to 2-0 on the season while the Nor'Easters fall to 0-3 overall. UNE and Husson will meet in the tournament consolation game on Sunday at 2:00 p.m. with the Blazers set to host St. Joseph's in the championship game at 4:00 p.m.

Elms 60, Husson 59

In a tightly contested game that saw neither team establish more than a nine-point lead, Purcelle, who went 7 of 10 from the free throw line for the game, hit the second of two free throws with just four seconds remaining to help Elms secure its first win of the season.

Blazers' senior forward Juan Alverio (Toa Baja, Puerto Rico) swished a pair of free throws to give Elms a 59-57 lead before Husson's Jay Uhrin (Winterport, Maine) scored two of his game-high 20 points to knot the contest at 59-59 setting up Purcelle for his heroics.

Alverio led three Elms players in double figures netting 15 points and grabbing 12 rebounds, while Purcelle finished with 13. Junior guard Bryant Corcoran (Wolcott, Conn.) added 10 points and hauled in seven rebounds in the win.

Alverio and senior guard Arsenio Avant (Southwest Ranches, Fla.) combined for nine of Elms' 16 steals to help pace the Blazers on defense.

Husson's Josh Jones (Jefferson,Maine) notched 15 points and 15 rebounds and Eric Modica (Kittery, Maine) contributed 11 points to spark the Eagles' offense.

Jones and Marc Zaharchuk (Richmond, Maine) each added four assists in the losing effort.

St. Joseph's 101, UNE 66

St. Joseph's saw five players score in double digits, including Olivier Laurent (Amityville, N.Y.) who led all scorers with 20 points. Barry Ingram Jr. (Bayshore, N.Y.) came off the bench to score 17 points and add four assists, while Trey Black (Bayport, N.Y.) was close behind with 16 points. Steve Velazquez (Hauppauge, N.Y.) and Vincent Russo (West Sayville, N.Y.) rounded out the Golden Eagles with 14 and 10 points respectively.

Velazquez cleaned up the boards with a game-high 10 rebounds, while Black registered two of the team's five blocks.

UNE received a 15-point effort Marcus Winn (Austin, Texas) who hit on 5 of 12 from the field and 3 of 9 from three-point range.

J.D. Winn (Austin, Texas) and Bobby Belanger (Clinton, Maine) totaled seven points each for the Nor'Easters in the loss.