Feb 11, 2012
Jarryd Rossignol tallied a team-best and season-high 20 points to lead the Nor'easters
BIDDEFORD, Maine -- First-year guard Marlon Bennett (Stratford, Conn.) poured in 19 of his game-high 28 after halftime to help Nichols College hold off the University of New England for an 87-78 Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) men's basketball victory Saturday afternoon at James A. Beaudry Gymnasium.
After the Nor'easters closed what had been a 16-point deficit (50-34) down to six (61-55) at the 9:03 mark, Bennett scored on six of the next nine Bison possessions -- including five three-pointers -- to pump the Nichols cushion up to 17 (80-63) inside the final five minutes.
UNE answered with 11 of the next 12 points to reduce the margin to seven with 1:14 left, but the visitors hit 6-of-8 free throws down the stretch to seal the win.
For the game, Bennett went 11-for-16 from the floor in 19 minutes of action off the bench. Sophomore Ryan Sheehan (North Attleboro, Mass.) chipped in with 21 points and six boards, while first-year Matt Langadas (Casco, Maine) contributed 15 points and seven caroms.
Senior Mike Salis (Nashua, N.H.) notched 10 rebounds and eight assists to support the Bison (11-12, 9-7 CCC), who shot 50 percent from both the field (28 for 56) and beyond the arc (9 of 18) in the contest.
Big Blue senior Jarryd Rossignol (Caribou, Maine) tossed in a season-best 20 points in a reserve role to pace UNE (6-17, 6-10 CCC), and tallied three of the team's 13 treys on the day. Classmate Ryan Knotek (Saratoga Springs, N.Y.) posted a double-double of 12 points and 10 rebounds, and junior Chris Ouellette (East Millinocket, Maine) added 10 points, including both of his shot attempts from deep.
Following back-to-back three-pointers from Rossignol just past the midway point of the first half, Nichols went on a 12-1 spurt in 2:50 to assume a 34-20 advantage. The Bison carried that same lead into intermission (46-32), where Sheehan (14) and Rossignol (13) were the only two players in double figures.
Trailing 61-48 with 12:12 on the clock in the second, UNE received two buckets from Knotek and the third of three trifectas from junior Charles Fenner III (Bronx, N.Y.) to get within six (61-55).
The Nor'easters got three-pointers on consecutive possessions from senior Marcus Winn (Austin, Texas) early on in the Bennett run to stay close for a few moments, but the rookie shooter seemingly could not miss until the Nichols cushion peaked at 17 (80-63).
Both teams hit the road for games on Tuesday against two of the league's top three squads. The Bison head to Salve Regina University and UNE visits Endicott College, each with an 8 p.m. tip-off.
After the Nor'easters closed what had been a 16-point deficit (50-34) down to six (61-55) at the 9:03 mark, Bennett scored on six of the next nine Bison possessions -- including five three-pointers -- to pump the Nichols cushion up to 17 (80-63) inside the final five minutes.
UNE answered with 11 of the next 12 points to reduce the margin to seven with 1:14 left, but the visitors hit 6-of-8 free throws down the stretch to seal the win.
For the game, Bennett went 11-for-16 from the floor in 19 minutes of action off the bench. Sophomore Ryan Sheehan (North Attleboro, Mass.) chipped in with 21 points and six boards, while first-year Matt Langadas (Casco, Maine) contributed 15 points and seven caroms.
Senior Mike Salis (Nashua, N.H.) notched 10 rebounds and eight assists to support the Bison (11-12, 9-7 CCC), who shot 50 percent from both the field (28 for 56) and beyond the arc (9 of 18) in the contest.
Big Blue senior Jarryd Rossignol (Caribou, Maine) tossed in a season-best 20 points in a reserve role to pace UNE (6-17, 6-10 CCC), and tallied three of the team's 13 treys on the day. Classmate Ryan Knotek (Saratoga Springs, N.Y.) posted a double-double of 12 points and 10 rebounds, and junior Chris Ouellette (East Millinocket, Maine) added 10 points, including both of his shot attempts from deep.
Following back-to-back three-pointers from Rossignol just past the midway point of the first half, Nichols went on a 12-1 spurt in 2:50 to assume a 34-20 advantage. The Bison carried that same lead into intermission (46-32), where Sheehan (14) and Rossignol (13) were the only two players in double figures.
Trailing 61-48 with 12:12 on the clock in the second, UNE received two buckets from Knotek and the third of three trifectas from junior Charles Fenner III (Bronx, N.Y.) to get within six (61-55).
The Nor'easters got three-pointers on consecutive possessions from senior Marcus Winn (Austin, Texas) early on in the Bennett run to stay close for a few moments, but the rookie shooter seemingly could not miss until the Nichols cushion peaked at 17 (80-63).
Both teams hit the road for games on Tuesday against two of the league's top three squads. The Bison head to Salve Regina University and UNE visits Endicott College, each with an 8 p.m. tip-off.