QUINCY, Mass. – Freshman DeAnte Bruton (New London, Conn.) scored a game-high 28 points as the Nichols College men's basketball team defeated Eastern Nazarene College 84-70 in Commonwealth Coast Conference men's basketball action Wednesday night at the Lahue Physical Education Center.
 
Classmate Tyler Dion (Barre, Mass.) knocked down five 3-pointers and finished with 17 points while freshman Jerome Cunningham (Westbury, N.Y.) notched a double-double with 13 points and a game-high 18 boards. Nichols shot 46 percent and outrebounded the Lions, 45-31.
 
Senior Christian Lynch (Alpharetta, Ga.) poured in a team-high 25 points (10-of-14 FG) to lead the Lions. Senior Corey Doran (Fairfield, Calif.) compiled 18 points, eight rebounds, and three assists while freshman Noah Cheney (Bend, Ore.) racked up 13 points, seven rebounds, and six assists. Eastern Nazarene canned 46 percent of its shots but committed 16 turnovers which led to 23 Bison points.
 
The Bison led by 10 at halftime as Bruton scored 15 points for Nichols and Lynch netted 13 for ENC. The Lions got to within three points at the 12:44 mark of the second half when senior David Eddings (Endicott, N.Y.) connected from long range.
 
Nichols regained a 10-point advantage on a basket by junior Daequon Antoine (Fort Mill, S.C.) with eight minutes to go and, after the lead was cut to seven less than four minutes later, sophomore Marcos Echevarria (Lynn, Mass.) made a three to give Nichols a 76-66 lead with 3:56 to go. Bruton's layup with 1:16 to go stretched the lead to 14 points.
 
All-Time Series
Tonight's contest marks the 36th all-time meeting between Eastern Nazarene College and Nichols College. The Bison lead the series, 21-16, and have won six of the last seven meetings.
 
Next Games
Nichols (19-5, 14-3 CCC) – Saturday, February 18 vs UNE, 2:00 p.m.
Eastern Nazarene (11-13, 8-9 CCC) – Saturday, February 18 @ Curry, 3:00 p.m.