Dudley, Mass. – Relatively quiet for much of the game against The Commonwealth Coast Conference (TCCC) rival Nichols College, Endicott freshman guard Bennett Knowlton (Shrewsbury, Mass.) made a big splash in the waning moments of overtime. Knowlton hit the game-winner with six seconds left in extra time to give the Gulls a 69-68 win over the Bison in conference play.
With the score tied 60-60 after Nichols forward Kyle Mascilak (Sparta, N.J.) hit a game-tying three-pointer with 48 seconds remaining in regulation, the Gulls (8-5, 1-1 TCCC) and Bison (3-9, 0-2 TCCC) pressed on into overtime to determine a winner in a crucial conference match up. Endicott's Lachlan Magee (Melbourne, Australia), who struggled for much of regulation, scored five of his team's nine overtime points and finished with 12 in the game with five rebounds, two steals and a block. Gulls forward Aaron Karkow (Uncasville, Conn.) added a jumper in the extra frame before Knowlton knocked down the game-winner.
Both teams failed to create any offensive momentum in the first half with the Gulls shooting 29.2% (7-of-24) and the Bison hitting 23.1% (6-of-26) of their shots in the opening stanza. Endicott held on to a 19-15 advantage at the half thanks to seven points from freshman Jordan Lewis (Windsor, Conn.) and five points from sophomore Lance Greene (Dorchester, Mass.). The duo also combined for five steals in the first half with Nichols committing 18 turnovers.
In the second half Nichols freshman Ryan Sheehan (North Attleboro, Mass.), who was held scoreless on 0-5 from the floor in 17 minutes of playing time in opening half, scored 24 of his game-high 26 points as the Bison shot a stunning 58.1% as a team. Sheehan was 9-of-12, including 3-of-4 from beyond the arc. Justin Kuntz (Wallingford, Conn.) scored eight of his 16 points in the second as well to pace Nichols offensively.
For the Gulls, Lance Greene and senior Chris Galbraith (Lowell, Mass.) each scored eight points in the second half to lead the Gulls. Greene finished with 13 points, tied with teammate Jordan Lewis for the team-high. Lewis also dished out five assists in the game. The Gulls held an eight-point lead with 6:26 remaining in the second half before the Bison trimmed down the lead to three points, setting up the Kyle Mascilak game-tying three-ball with 48 seconds left. Neither team would be able to get off a shot in those final seconds, forcing the overtime period.
Endicott converted 27 Nichols turnovers in 25 points, outscoring the opponent 25-5 in that category. Nichols outrebounded Endicott 48-30, including 18 offensive boards leading to 14 second chance points. The Gulls had eight fast-break points, compared to zero for the Bison.
Endicott continues their TCCC schedule with a home game against Western New England College on Saturday, January 15th at 3:00 pm. Nichols travels to New England College on the same day for a 3:00 pm tip-off.