DANBURY, Conn. - Junior forward Nick Boyce (Jamaica, N.Y.) netted a team-high 22 points while senior forward Jourdan Belcher (Elmsford, N.Y.) chipped in with 15. However, the Western Connecticut State University men's basketball team was stunned by visiting UMass Boston, 83-82, in the Little East Conference opener for both squads on Sunday afternoon at Feldman Arena.

Rookie forward Cameron Perkins (Danbury, Conn.) drilled a step-back three-pointer from the corner with just one second remaining on the clock to lift the Beacons to the win. He finished with a game-high 27 points in his return to his hometown. The Wolves had one last chance when they launched the ball from the baseline to the other side of the court. Senior guard Jeremiah Williams (Brooklyn, N.Y.) then hoisted a shot from the top of the key that found the bottom of the net. The officials then huddled for a few moments and determined he did not get the shot off before the buzzer, sinking the WestConn hopes of a dramatic win.

UMass Boston had not won a game at Feldman Arena since December of 2016. They improved to 4-1 overall and 1-0 in league play while the Wolves fell to 4-4 and 0-1.

The hosts got off to a slow start as the visitors opened the contest with a 7-0 run capped by a fast-break layup from Perkins. However, WestConn responded and captured a 14-11 advantage when rookie forward Marcel Henry (Yonkers, N.Y.) took a nifty pass from junior guard Tayejon Lynch (Cambria Heights, N.Y) and slammed the ball through the twine. But the Beacons retaliated and built the lead to a 10-point margin courtesy of another fast-break layup to make it 39-29. The Wolves sliced it to a 39-37 halftime count when Henry drained a pair of free throws.

The lead changed hands early in the second before the Beacons put together another spurt to hold a 76-67 lead when Perkins canned a pair from the line with 4:32 remaining. The Wolves then stormed back with an 11-0 surge to regain the lead. They stretched it to 81-77 with 32 seconds left on the clock. Senior guard Emanuel Zayas (Hollywood, Fla.) buried a trifecta for the Beacons before Boyce hit a free throw, putting the hosts on top 82-80. UMass Boston came out of a timeout with four ticks to go and Perkins connected on the game-winner.

WestConn will look to rebound from the heartbreaking loss when they host Vermont State University Castleton in another LEC matchup on Wednesday.