Sunrise News
No. 3 Fisher Upsets No. 2 Machias in Men's Basketball Semifinals
Sat, Feb 27, 2010 - [Men's Basketball]
Casey Pursell scored 22 points on Saturday
Casey Pursell scored 22 points on Saturday

(Concord, N.H.)- No. 3 Fisher College provided the only upset in the Sunrise Conference men's basketball tournament as they knocked off No. 2 University of Maine at Machias 82-67 at New Hampshire Technical Institute on Saturday.  The Falcons, the defending champions, improved to 24-5 and will play No. 1 University of Maine at Fort Kent on Sunday in the title game.  Machias ends the year at 15-14.

Both teams played to a first-half tie as the score was deadlocked at 38 heading into the locker room.

The score would remain close and the lead see-sawed through the first 12 minutes of the second half before Fisher began to pull away.

The Falcons saw a slim lead swell to 10 points at 68-58 afer back-to-back baskets from Casey Pursell and Louis Williams. 

The teams traded baskets on their next two possessions and then Fisher misfired twice but the Clippers weren't able to capitilize. 

With under five minutes to go Jeremy Tolbert hit a pair of free throws that trimmed the lead to seven, 70-63.  But then the Falcons came up with several big defensive stops and closed the game on a 12-4 run to seal the win.

Pursell netted a game-high 22 points leading five Falcons in double figure.  Pursell also snagged 12 rebounds and made four steals.  Ryan Henry added 16 points and six steals.  Jasmin Handanovic also had 16 points and seven rebounds.  Oscar Brown contributed 13 points and 13 rebounds and Louis Williams chipped in with 12 points and four steals.

Tolbert let the Clippers with 21 points including four 3-pointers.  Clifford McDonald added 18 points and 14 boards.  Zach Armstrong had 13 points and seven rebounds and Nate Case supplied eight points, nine assists and seven rebounds.
 
 
 
University of Main at Fort Kent