BOSTON – For the fifth straight game, four Rams scored in double-digits as the Suffolk men's basketball team bested UMass Boston, 80-62, Thursday night at the Clark Athletic Center Gymnasium for the blue-and-gold's seventh win in a row.   

THE BASICS
SCORE: Suffolk 80 | UMass Boston 62
RECORDS: Suffolk (8-1) | UMass Boston (4-4)  

HOW IT HAPPENED
UMass Boston scored first, but it was Suffolk from there as they scored 13 straight to take a 13-2 lead 3:59 into the action. The Beacons attempted to threaten the Rams, however, the visitors managed to keep the hosts at bay for the remainder of the first frame to sit in front 40-28 at the end of 20 minutes. 

The pace of the game stayed steady in the second stanza with Rams up by 10, 50-40, at the 12:25 minute mark. A 12-2 Suffolk scoring stretch over the next 3:07 put gave the blue-and-gold a 20-point cushion, 62-42.  

In the driver's seat, the Rams did not allow the Beacons to threaten the rest of the way. In a desperation attempt, UMass chucked triples with less than four minutes to go and managed to slice the margin back to a dozen, 72-60, with 3:22 to play. 

Thankfully, Suffolk successfully took care of business at the charity stripe to take the 80-62 non-conference win to wrap up its first semester calendar.  

STATISTICALLY SPEAKING

• Nate Hale anchored Suffolk's score with a game-high 17 points. The graduate student shot 50 percent (6-12) from the floor and did not miss at the free throw line (4-4) to pace the Rams offensive output. He added three caroms. 
• William Rowe finished with 12 points on a 6-for-9 showing from the floor with nine rebounds to his credit. He set-up four shots as well. 
• John Gates provided 11 points on a 4-for-7 performance from the field. 
• Keenan Robertson rounded out the double figure scorers with 10 points to go along with six boards, two swats, one assist and one takeway. 
• As a team, Suffolk shot 46.8 percent (29-62) from the floor and was an impressive 88.9 percent (16-18) at the charity stripe. 
• The Rams won the rebound battle, 45-36.  

NOTEWORTHY

• The 8-1 start is the best since beginning the 1976-77 season 9-1.  
• Suffolk won its seventh straight outing, which matches the most wins in a row since Jan. 30-Feb. 14, 2019. 
• The Rams saw four players in double-digits for the fifth straight game. 
• Suffolk improved to 11-21 all-time against UMass Boston. 
• The Rams defeated the Beacons for the first time since Jan.3, 2019. 
• The blue-and-gold is now 3-3 against UMB under Jeff Juron's guidance. 
• The win marks Suffolk's third on the Beacons home hardwood. 
• The Rams are now 3-12 when playing at UMass Boston.   

POST-GAME PIC

WHAT'S AHEAD?
Suffolk is idle until Tuesday, Jan. 4 when it entertains Nichols at Larry E. and Michael S. Smith Court at 7:30 p.m.