CHAMBERS SCORES 1,000TH, BUT PRIDE FALL TO ENC

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WESTON, Mass. – Regis College senior Ryan Chambers (Abington, Mass.) scored his 1,000th career point, but Eastern Nazarene College held on for a 63-56 non-conference victory over the Pride on Tuesday night in Weston, Mass. The Lions improve to a perfect 5-0 on the season, while the Pride have dropped five straight and stand at 1-5.

With 5:32 remaining in the first half, Chambers caught the ball at the top of the key and drove to his left. Chambers got off a shot, double-pumping in the air, as the ball bounced on the rim and trickled into the net, putting him in the record books. Ryan Chambers becomes the third member of the men's basketball 1,000 Point Club joining Derek Neal (1,260) and Phil Alibrandi (1,006).

Regis and Eastern Nazarene were tied early in the half at 5-5 before Osanto Marc Jr. (Kissimmee, Fla.) converted an and-one layup to put the Pride on top 8-5 with just under 16 minutes to play. Chambers extended the Pride lead to 11-7 two minutes later, but a quick 6-0 spurt from the Lions capped off by a Lequan Gomes (Fairfield, Calif.) steal and fast break layup gave the visitors a 14-11 advantage. Chambers and Marc traded baskets with ENC's Alex Jarman (Portsmouth, R.I.) and Gomes before Dylan Saenz (Port Lavaca, Texas) gave Eastern Nazarene a 20-15 lead with 9:07 to play.

Back-to-back three-pointers from Justin Wagner (Oklahoma City, Okla.) and Christian Lynch (Alpharetta, Ga.) put ENC on top 26-18 and another Jarman layup gave the Lions their largest lead of the game at 28-18. Chambers answered with a jumper and a pair of Ethan Peana (Staten Island, N.Y.) freethrows cut the deficit to only six a few minutes later. Chris Leak Jr. (New Haven, Conn.) scored on the fastbreak to make it a 28-24 game, but Jaylen Owens (Johns Creek, Ga.) answered with a jumper of his own to push the lead back to 30-24 with 3:37 to play.

Osanto Marc Jr. and Peana scored the last two baskets of the half to put the Pride within two points headed into the break.

Coming out of halftime, the Lions opened the period on an 11-0 run to take a commanding 41-28 lead with 14:53 to play in the game. The Pride cut the deficit to nine, but ENC's Saenz connected from three and Christian Lynch converted a layup to keep it a 13 point game with under eight minutes to play.

Regis turned up the defense and answered with a 10-0 run that included a pair of Peana jumpers and freethrows from Jordan Monts (Springfield, Mass.), and Ahmad Charles (Cambridge, Mass.). Lequan Gomes ended the run for the Lions with a freethrow, but Marc Jr. scored on the other end to make it a 47-45 ballgame and force an Eastern Nazarene timeout.

Gomes scored four straight points to get the lead back to six, and the teams traded baskets and freethrows into the final minute of play when an Ethan Peana layup made it a 57-53 game with only 32 seconds remaining in the game. With Regis forced to foul, Eastern Nazarene went 6-for-6 at the freethrow line down the stretch to fight of the Pride and hang on for the 63-56 victory.

The Pride won the rebounding battle, 42-26, but committed 18 turnovers compared to just eight for Eastern Nazarene. The Lions converted those missteps into 20 points off turnovers on the night. Regis ended the night shooting 37.3% from the field (19-of-51), while ENC was a bit better at 42.3% (22-of-52).

Osanto Marc Jr. finished the night with a game-high 18 points and 13 rebounds for his first double-double of the season. Ethan Peana came off the bench to join him in double-figures with 13 points and five rebounds, while Chambers finished the night with 10 points. Chris Leak Jr. chipped in six points and six rebounds in the setback.

Eastern Nazarene was led by 16 points and three assists from Jaylen Owens, while Lequan Gomes added 11 points and four rebounds for the Lions. Alex Jarman had eight points, four rebounds, and a pair of blocks, while Christian Lynch and Dylan Saenz combined for 17 points off the bench.

Following the Thanksgiving break, the Pride return to action next Tuesday when they travel to Lesley University to open New England Collegiate Conference play at 8:00 p.m. The Lions host the University of New England next Wednesday as a part of Commonwealth Coast Conference play at 7:00 p.m.