It was more than a year in the making, but Pilgrim alum James Pina finally tasted the sweet nectar of victory on the basketball court, helping Curry defeat Maine-Presque Isle 61-57 on Dec. 30, snapping a 33-game losing streak dating back to last season in the process.

The Colonels last were on the “W” side of the ledger on Feb. 21, 2015, downing Salve Regina 84-80 in overtime before embarking on a winless 2015-16 campaign and dropping their first eight contests of this season.

Pina was one of the key contributors to Curry’s win over the Owls, finishing the game with 10 points, four rebounds and a team-high three assists.

The victory also meant that the Colonels advanced to the final of the Mariner Classic, a four-team tournament hosted by Maine Maritime, who defeated Maritime College 85-65 in the other semifinal.

The homestanding Mariners then prevented Curry from starting a winning streak on New Year’s Eve, winning their own tournament 81-39 thanks to a second half in which they outscored the Colonels 47-17.

Despite having won just one game thus far, the Colonels have had their chances to add to the win total, losing to both Emmanuel and Salve Regina by a single point and taking Lesley to double overtime before falling 87-83 in their season opener on Nov. 15.

Curry’s roster this winter is laden with underclassmen, and as a result, Pina has had to provide much-needed veteran leadership while his teammates learn the ropes of the collegiate game.

To that end, the former Patriot is leading the way in several statistical categories, topping the Colonels in points per game (15.3), rebounds (79), steals (20) and blocked shots (10), while also dishing off 23 assists, good for second on the team.

Next up for Pina and Curry is a pair of home games against Commonwealth Coast opposition, with Wentworth paying a visit on Wednesday night before a Saturday matinee versus the University of New England.