DUDLEY, Mass. – The Nichols College men's basketball team matched the program record for regular season wins (22) with an 81-72 victory over the Wentworth Institute of Technology on Saturday afternoon in a Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) battle in Dudley, Mass.
The Bison improve to 22-3 overall and 16-2 in the CCC and have clinched the top seed in the upcoming CCC Tournament, where they will take on No. 8-seed Western New England University on Tuesday night at 7:00 p.m. in the Athletics Center. Wentworth drops to 14-11 overall and 10-8 in the conference and have earned the No. 6-seed in the CCC Tournament and travel to No. 3-seed Endicott on Tuesday night for a 5:30 p.m. matchup.
In a pregame ceremony, the Bison celebrated their lone senior in Daequon Antoine, and he did not disappoint, recording a double-double of 18 points and 10 rebounds in the win. Junior Marcos Echevarria struggled from the floor, but buried 14-of-15 free throws to finish the game with 22 points, four rebounds, two assists, and four steals.
Sophomore DeAnte Bruton recorded 13 points, five rebounds, and four assists, while classmate Tyler Dionpoured in 10 points to go with five assists. Freshman Matt Morrow wrapped up his first regular season with the Bison by posting 12 points, seven rebounds, and a pair of assists. Sophomore Jerome Cunningham battled foul trouble but still finished with six points, two rebounds, two assists, two steals, and two blocks.
Wentworth senior Jason Ganley led the Leopards with 20 points and five rebounds, while classmate Cesar Fulcar registered a double-double of 12 points, 11 rebounds, six assists, and two steals. Senior Sam Knollmeyer added 12 points and five boards, with sophomore Stephen Azums chipping in nine points and seven rebounds.
It was a back-and-forth start to the game as a jumper from Matt Morrow with 15:06 to play in the opening half made it a 13-12 deficit for the Bison. The Leopards answered with a 13-0 run, capped by a pair of free throws from junior Zach Bergeon, to take their largest lead of the game at 26-12 with 10:25 to play in the half.
Nichols started to chip away, and a three-point play from Echevarria cut the Wentworth lead to 32-22 with less than five minutes remaining. The Bison could feel the momentum changing, and that play sparked a 12-0 run to end the half, capped by an Echevarria triple in the closing seconds, to give the Bison a 34-32 lead headed into the break.
Fulcar tied the game at 40-40 with a jumper early in the second stanza, but another 12-2 run by the Bison extended the lead to 54-42 and 11:23 remaining. Back-to-back threes from Antoine pushed the Nichols advantage to 60-45, but the Leopards continued to hang around, using a 16-10 run to pull to 70-61 with 2:35 remaining.
Bruton and Wentworth senior Ben Kizel traded three-pointers, but a pair of Antoine free throws followed by a layup from Bruton put the Bison ahead for good, 77-64, with 1:23 remaining. Wentworth would continue to hit shots down the stretch, but Echevarria connected on four-straight freebies to keep the Leopards at bay and help the Bison hang on for the 81-72 win.
For the game, Nichols shot 44.8% (26-of-58) from the field, 35.5% (11-of-31) from beyond the arc, and 81.8% (18-of-22) at the free throw line. Wentworth shot 41.9% (26-of-62) from the floor, 35.7% (5-of-14) from distance, and 83.3% (15-of-18) at the charity stripe in the setback. The Leopards won the rebounding battle, 39-34, while both teams committed 13 turnovers apiece.
All-Time Series
Nichols and Wentworth have met 48 times in program history, and the Bison hold a 26-22 advantage in the series, including wins in 10 of the last 11 meetings with the Leopards.