WILLIMANTIC, Conn. – Junior Nick Nedwick (Irvington, N.Y.) scored the final three points of the first half with a three-pointer and the team's first 10 of the second half Saturday afternoon in sparking the Eastern Connecticut State University men's basketball team to an 82-65 Little East Conference victory over Plymouth State University at Geissler Gymnasium.
Nedwick led Eastern in scoring for the eighth time in nine games with a season-high 29 on 11-of-14 shooting from the floor (5-of-6 from three-point range), one of the team's five double-figure scorers. He helped the Warriors improve to 7-2 overall and 1-1 in the Little East.
PSU senior Ryan Lambert (Derry, N.H.) led the Panthers with a career-high 34 points, but was the only visitor to reach double figures in scoring. Lambert, who had 22 of his team's 35 after the break, hit half of his 20 field goal attempts and 11-of-13 free throws to go along with five rebounds and three steals. Senior Tom Dowd (Portsmouth, N.H.) added nine points and nine rebounds and classmate Bill Stowell (Stratham, N.H.) chipped in with seven points and eight rebounds.
PSU was held 10 points under its season scoring average, the Panthers having totaled at least 80 points four times this season. Plymouth State had a two-game win streak stopped and fell to 5-4 overall and 1-1 in conference play.
Nedwick provided the Warriors with a seven-point halftime cushion with a three-pointer at the buzzer, then single-handedly outscore Plymouth 10-5 in the opening minutes of the second half as the Warriors moved out to a 12-point, 47-35 advantage. The lead never fell under 10 points after sophomore Chris Robitaille (Canton, Conn.) swished two free throws with 12 minutes left in the game and the lead crested at 20 in the final minutes.
Senior Broderick Sawyer (Norwalk, Conn.) followed Nedwick with 14 points and sophomore Joe Ives (Avon) tied his season high with 11 points. Sophomore Mike Garrow (Terrvylle) and Robitaille both came off the bench for 11 and 10 points, respectively.
Plymouth State now takes a break for final exams and the holidays. The Panthers will return to action on Monday, Jan. 3, when they host Bowdoin College at Foley Gymnaisum.
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