Nashua – Aiden Collins (Paterson, N.J.) converted a layup with 16 seconds remaining in overtime to give host Daniel Webster a 93-92 lead and the Eagles held on the closing seconds for wild and physical 94-92 victory over Regis in a NECC contest Saturday at Mario Vagge Gymnasium.
Senior Daris Cosby (Albany, N.Y.) registered 22 points – including number 1,000 for his career – as the Eagles remained perfect as part of their best start ever in improving to 7-0 (2-0 NECC) and survived despite three starters fouling out before the conclusion of the contest.
Kevin Perez (Nashua) racked up 18 points and six assists for the winners while Ryan Gauthier (Nashua) also reached 18 points with three assists and three steals.
Collins would finish with 13 points and six rebounds for DWC while Ray Farmer (Nashua) added 11 points and seven caroms. David Feinstein (Londonderry, N.H.) added eight key points off the bench.
It was also DWC's first victory over Regis in six tries dating back three seasons.
Ryan Chambers (Abington, Mass.) was terrific for Regis (2-6, 1-1 NECC) knocking down a game-high 29 points including five from downtown as he went 8 of 10 from the line and dished off five assists.
Chambers was one of five Pride players in double figures that included a double double of 17 points and 11 boards from Sam Jean-Gilles (Melrose, Mass.), 17 from Osanto Marc, Jr. (Kissimmee, Fla.), 13 points and six assists from Ahmad Charles (Cambridge, Mass.), and a double double of 10 points and 11 caroms from Ethan Peana (Staten Island, N.Y.).
A total of 55 fouls were handed out with Regis garnering 28 to 27 for DWC. Regis finished with a 47-30 rebounding advantage, but committed 24 turnovers while the Eagles committed just 12.
DWC led by six (79-73) with 47 seconds remaining in regulation but Regis rallied behind a Jean-Gilles trey and later, trailing 82-78 with 22 ticks left, pulled within two on a Charles layup. After a Chambers steal with nine seconds to go, Jordan Monts (Springfield, Mass.) tied it drawing a foul and sinking both.
DWC led by as many as three in the extra period after a three point play from Feinstein and later a layup from Farmer for an 87-84 lead before Regis answered with a 6-0 run on a Monts jumper, Jean-Gilles layup and Chambers inside move for a 90-87 lead with 1:35 left.
Collins pulled DWC back within one from inside with 1:23 to go and after Peana sank two freebies, Perez converted off balance in the paint with 42 seconds to go for a 92-91 Regis lead setting up Collins's late heroics.
Regis had possession with four seconds remaining but Charles's three-point attempt through two defenders fell just short.
Cosby became the 10th player in DWC history and first since 2011 to reach the millennium mark, doing so when he knocked down his second three pointers of the game with 3:55 remaining the first half.
DWC returns to action on Tuesday as they host Fitchburg State at 7:00 p.m. while Regis is off until December 29th when the face Kalamazoo in Tampa, Fla.