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HomeNewsArchivesUVI BUCS FALL TO UMET IN 1ST GAME OF THREE

UVI BUCS FALL TO UMET IN 1ST GAME OF THREE

March 27, 2001 — The University of the Virgin Islands Buccaneers lost the first in the best-of-three basketball playoff series to the Universidad Metroplitana de Puerto Rico 96-67 Monday afternoon in Rio Piedras, Puerto Rico. The Bucs, who clinched a playoff berth in the Organizacion Deportiva Interuniversitaria conference last weekend, faced UMET for the third time this season.
The Bucs lost for the first time to UMET in Puerto Rico in late December. They then got their revenge with a highly controversial victory during the inaugural ceremonies at UVI's Sports and Fitness Center on January 13. In that game, UMET walked off the court halfway through the second half.
On Monday, UMET jumped out to an early led and never looked back. They held the Bucs to 14 first quarter points and racked up 26 points for a 12-point lead after the quarter. The second quarter was more of the same as UMET increased their lead to 20 points at halftime.
The massacre continued in the third quarter. UMET completely put the game out of reach with a 30-point quarter while holding the Bucs to 14 points. UMET was never threatened again as they cruised to victory.
"UMET had something to prove," said Bucs head coach Cyril Benjamin. "UMET outplayed us. They wanted it more than we did."
Gustavo Salgado had 23 points to lead all scorers for UMET. Salgado made two big 3-pointers in a 14-point third quarter. His teammate Javier Rolon added 20 points, 15 in the first quarter alone. The Bucs were led by John St. Luce who had 11 points. Kevin Abbott and Donald Christmas each had 10 points.
The Bucs will have to up the defense for game two on Saturday at the UVI Sports and Fitness Center.

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