NEWPORT, R.I. - Jack Margoupis (Sutton, Mass.) scored a game-high 21 points and four players reached double figures as Salve Regina University men's basketball opened the 2026-27 season with a convincing 94-62 non-conference victory over UMass Dartmouth Tuesday night at Rodgers Recreation Center.
The Seahawks improved to 1-0 behind an efficient offensive performance, shooting 57.8 percent from the field while outscoring the Corsairs 60-24 in the paint. UMass Dartmouth, playing its third game of the season, fell to 1-2.
After falling behind 2-0 on the game's opening basket, Salve Regina responded with a 12-0 run fueled by transition opportunities and defensive pressure to take command early. The Seahawks shot a blistering 68.8 percent in the first half and built a 47-32 advantage at the break.
The hosts maintained their momentum throughout the second half, never allowing the Corsairs to trim the margin below 14 points. A basket by Domenic Malvey (Newton, N.H.) pushed the lead to 20 points midway through the period, and the Seahawks later expanded the advantage to as many as 35 before settling for the 32-point final margin.
Margoupis finished with 21 points on 7-of-12 shooting while adding nine rebounds. Zavier Francoeur (Canton, Mass.) contributed 18 points, including a pair of highlight-reel dunks, while Jack Margoupis, William Mensah (Newburgh, N.Y.) and Domenic Malvey added 21, 16 and 15 points, respectively. Pat Spenard (Rochester, Mass.) filled the stat sheet with eight points, seven assists and four rebounds.
INSIDE THE MATCHUP
Final: Salve Regina 94, UMass Dartmouth 63
Records: Salve Regina (1-0, 0-0 NEWMAC), UMass Dartmouth (1-2, 0-0 LEC)
History: These programs meet for the 16th time in men's basketball, and the first time in 24 years. The Corsairs had won all but one meeting with the Seahawks in a series that began in 1985. Salve Regina's lone victory prior to tonight came on November 29, 2001, in UMass Dartmouth's first-ever visit to the Rodgers Recreation Center (59-54). On their next visit (March 2, 2002 - same season), the Corsairs won 88-68 in an ECAC first-round matchup. Salve Regina finished third in the NEWMAC last season while UMass Dartmouth was seventh in the Little East Conference.
SUMMARY
- 1ST HALF - | SEAHAWKS 47, CORSAIRS 32
- 2ND HALF - | SEAHAWKS 47, CORSAIRS 30
NOTEWORTHY
- Salve Regina had its largest lead of 35 points with 2:48 to go in the game.
- Kordell Philemon led the visitors with 17 points.
- The Seahawks had their best run (12-0) with just under 16 minutes remaining in the first half.
ON THE HORIZON
Salve Regina continues with a non-league battle against Little East Conference competition when the Seahawks face the Anchormen at Rhode Island College in a 5 p.m. tip-off in Providence, Rhode Island, on
FloCollege.
