DUDLEY, Mass. – Sophomore Marcos Echevarria (Lynn, Mass.) scored a game-high 26 points as the Nichols College men's basketball team won its fifth game in a row by defeating Framingham State 91-73 Saturday afternoon in non-conference action at the Nichols Athletic Center.
 
Echevarria added five assists, four rebounds, and four steals. Freshman DeAnte Bruton (New London, Conn.) filled the stat sheet with 23 points, five rebounds, four steals and four steals in 37 minutes of action for the Bison, who shot 53 percent from the floor and committed just eight turnovers.
 
Junior Tony Alexandra (Hyde Park, Mass.) dropped in a game-high 24 points for the Rams (11-of-16 FG) and also collected 11 boards, three assists, three dimes, and one block. Sophomore Manny Payton (Fitchburg, Mass.) chipped in with 21 points while freshman Tyri Hampton (Fitchburg, Mass.) went for 10 points and six rebounds.
 
The Rams grabbed an early 11-5 lead following a layup from Alexandre at 14:30. Nichols took a 17-15 lead when Echevarria banged a three at 10:40 and, following a dunk by freshman Jerome Cunningham (Westbury, N.Y.) to tie the game at 20, the Bison closed the half on an 18-9 run to open up a 38-29 halftime lead. Echevarria led all scorers with 11 points. The Rams, meanwhile, shot 46 percent in the opening stanza and were led by Payton with 10 points.
 
The Bison opened up an 11-point lead at 49-38 following a layup from Bruton at 14:51. Less than four minutes later, he canned a three to make it 58-43 before a triple from Echevarria at 9:09 made it a 20-point game (63-43). The lead grew to as many as 28 after a Bruton layup with 8:05 on the clock.
 
Cunningham finished the afternoon with 15 rebounds while senior Josiah Kimball (Saint Johnsbury, Vt.) racked up 11 points, four rebounds, and two dimes. The Bison outscored the Rams 26-2 on the fast break.
 
All-Time Series
Today's contest marked the 28th all-time meeting between Nichols College and Framingham State University. The Bison have won two-straight and three of the last four meetings, but trail the series 18-10.
 
Next Games
Nichols (7-2) – Friday, December 30 vs Anna Maria, 8:00 p.m.
Framingham St. (2-7) – Tuesday, December 13 vs Tufts, 8:00 p.m.