Willimantic, Conn. – Eastern Connecticut State (6-2) jumped out to a 9-0 lead in the first five minutes on its way to an 85-75 win over visiting Endicott (3-4) in men's basketball at Francis E. Geissler Gymnasium.
Nick Nedwick (Irvington, N.Y.) led five Warriors in double-figures with a game-high 21 points. Jamie Kohn (Columbia, Conn.) added a double-double with 16 points and a game-high 13 rebounds.
Endicott also had five double-digit scorers, led by junior forward Aaron Karkow's (Uncasville, Conn.) season-high 17 points on 7-of-9 shooting. Sophomore guard Lance Greene (Dorchester, Mass.) chipped in 14 points and three assists for the Gulls, who also received a spark off the bench from sophomore guard Hayden Palozej (Stafford Springs, Conn.). Palozej set career-highs in points (14) and rebounds (5) in just 15 minutes of action.
Both teams played virtually on even terms after the Warriors hot start. Endicott shot 59 percent from the floor in the second half but couldn't wipe out a 14-point deficit at the break in a game it never led.
Endicott's perimeter defense held ECSU to 3 of 17 shooting from beyond the arc. The Warriors scored 26 points from the free throw line in the win, their second straight.
The Gulls' hot shooting in the second-half, combined with 17 free throws, helped them claw back from a double-digit halftime deficit. Jordan Lewis (Windsor, Conn.) knocked down a pair from the charity stripe to pull Endicott within five with nine minutes remaining in regulation.
Kohn scored off his own offensive rebound with seven minutes left after Endicott closed to within seven. The Gulls cut the lead to six with four minutes to go, but Levy answered with an offensive rebound and put back to stall the run.
Lachlan Magee (Melbourne, Australia) was one of four starters in double-figures for the Gulls. Magee finished with 12 points and five rebounds. Erik Callo (Southington, Conn.) added 13 points and five boards in the loss.
Palozej entered the game with seven points on the season before going connecting on 5-of-6 from the floor and 4-of-6 from the line.
Endicott hosts Berkeley College on Saturday at 1:00 pm inside MacDonald Gymnasium.