PETERSBURG, Va.—The #7-seeded Southern Maine Community College (SMCC) men's basketball team was defeated 80-49 by #10 Penn State University Wilkes-Barre in the opening round of the United States Collegiate Athletic Association (USCAA) national tournament on Sunday, Mar. 10.

Wilkes-Barre jumped out to a 9-1 run to begin the game and went on to outscore the Seawolves by a 20-point margin in the first half. SMCC nearly doubled up on their offensive production in the second but couldn't slow a poised and physical Penn State group that connected at a 61.5 percent clip from the field.

Although better in the turnover battle, SMCC fell second in both rebounding (49-31) and points in the paint (48-22).

Sophomore forward Luke Briggs (Augusta, Maine) led his team with 18 points on 7-14 shooting. Junior co-captain Thomas Martinotti (Harwinton, Conn.) landed 10 points and sophomore guard Jay Hawkes (Poland, Maine) came off the bench to contribute nine.

Four finished in double figures for Wilkes-Barre led topped by Rashod Ballard's 17 points. His team will go on to face NHTI in the quarterfinal round.

The result pushes SMCC to the consolation bracket to play #8 Penn State University Mont Alto on Monday, Mar. 11. Tip-off at Virginia State University is scheduled for 10:00 a.m.

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