NORTH DARTMOUTH, Mass. - The University of Massachusetts Dartmouth's men's basketball team used a 16-3 run early in the second half to take command and went on to an 80-67 victory over visiting Plymouth State in the second game of a Little East Conference doubleheader at the Tripp Athletic Center Saturday afternoon. The victory allowed the Corsairs to claim their 13th regular season championship under Head Coach Brian Baptiste, and first since the 2000-2001 season.

The 2001 squad won both the regular season championship and conference tournament, earned a first round bye in the NCAA Tournament, and then defeated Salem State before losing to Carthage in the round of 16.

The Corsairs, who scored six of the final seven points of the first half to break a 34-34 tie and take a 40-35 halftime advantage, used a three-pointer by senior forward Cory Tynes (Springfield, Mass./Commerce HS) and a dunk by senior center Dan Holbrook (Lexington, Mass./Lexington HS/Westfield State) to ignite their decisive run. After Chris Wilkinson of PSU hit a layup, Holbrook replied in kind, senior guard A.J. Tavares (New Bedford, Mass./New Bedford HS) connected from three-point range, Holbrook sandwiched four free throws around a layup by sophomore forward Matt Walker (Brockton, Mass./Brockton HS), and sophomore guard Tyler Turtoro (Shelton, Conn./Shelton HS) capped the run with another three-point field goal. The Panthers got no closer than 10 points the remainder of the way.

The teams traded the lead early, and UMass Dartmouth used a jumper by Tavares and a free throw by junior forward Dan Boyce (Swansea, Mass./Case HS/Framingham State) to tie the game at 20-20. An 8-0 Corsair run made it 30-22, but PU got treys from Eric Hondal and Ben Huntington to tie the game at 30-30. Tavares hit a three-pointer, but Jason O'Keefe hit a jump shot for PSU with2:54 left in the first half to tie the game for the eighth and final time at 34-34.

"We played better in the second half," said Baptiste. "We wanted to push the ball up the floor, get out and run and get transition baskets, and do a better job of getting back on defense. We didn't play that well in the first half. Uncharacteristically, we turned the ball over more than we usually do. We made too many unforced errors, and Plymouth State shot the ball well. We came out at halftime and played better, and got the job done."

Holbrook led all scorers with 25 points and 13 rebounds for his 11th double double of the year. Freshman forward Brandon Stephens (Dorchester, Mass./Newton North HS) added 18 points, and Tynes added 12. Junior point guard Reece Freeman (Cambridge, Mass./Rindge & Latin HS) contributed 13 assists, marking the seventh time this season he has been in double figures in assists. Wilkinson led PSU with 20 points; Huntington added 11 and Mike Chergey contributed 10.

The Corsairs improved to 23-2 and 12-2 in the Little East Conference with the victory, while the Panthers dropped to 8-17 and 4-10 with the defeat. UMass Dartmouth will return to action when they host UMass Boston in a Little East Conference playoff game Tuesday evening. Plymouth State will visit Rhode Island College Tuesday evening in another first round LEC playoff game.

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