NEWPORT, R.I. — Salve Regina University shot 61.5 percent (16-of-26) from the floor in the 2nd half to overcome a five-point deficit and take a 70-62 win over the University of New England.

Rodney Morton paced the Seahawks (5-11, 3-7 CCC) with 20 points and eight rebounds. After going 0-for-5 in the opening period, Nicholas Bates produced a double-double during the closing stanza alone (14 and 15) to wind up with 16 points and 22 boards. Isaiah Bowman added 10 for the home team, which was equally efficient (47%) from two-point and three-point land while out-rebounding the Nor’easters by a 45-29 margin.

For UNE (5-12, 3-7 CCC), Gavin Dibble (Greenport, N.Y.) totaled 17 points. Drew Coveney (Londonderry, N.H.) and Jean-Luc Parker (Georgetown, Texas) had 12 points apiece, and Drew Patno (Lunenburg, Mass.) collected eight rebounds.

The visiting squad connected on just 36 percent of its looks in the contest, and only generated a 6-of-34 (18%) effort from behind the arc.

After the Seahawks momentarily slipped ahead in the 2nd (41-39), Big Blue regained the edge and held a slim margin (52-50) entering the last 8:30. It was then that SRU rattled off the next 12 points to take control for good (62-52). The gap narrowed to four (64-60) at the 2:48 mark, but Jeffrey Oliveira canned a triple on the ensuing possession to pad the cushion right back up.

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