SPRINGFIELD, Mass.--Sophomore Mike Gelineau nailed a three-pointer with 14 seconds remaining in the game to lift Western New England to a thrilling 74-71 victory Tuesday over Salve Regina in Commonwealth Coast Conference men's basketball action at the Alumni Healthful Living Center field house, giving Coach Mike Theulen his 100th win on the Golden Bears sideline. With its first home win of the season, Western New England improves to 5-11 overall and 3-6 in the CCC. The Seahawks drop to 4-12 overall and 1-8 in the conference.
Following a timeout for the visitors with 10 seconds on the clock to set up a play, Salve still had a chance to tie the score and possibly send it to overtime, but Bryce Boggs' 3-point shot rimmed out with three seconds left. Time expired before anyone grabbed the rebound.
Four Golden Bears were in double-figures, including junior Zack Askew who had 12 points and eight rebounds and graduate student Nick DeFeo who added 11 and seven assists. Freshman Nelson Zayas chipped in 13 points and was one assist away from a double-double for a career-best nine.
Gelineau—who scored 15 points—drained a long two-pointer to tie the game at 71 apiece with 52 seconds remaining. Tantalizing defense in the paint, led by a blocked shot by Askew, helped smother the Seahawks' players—resulting in a successful stop. Askew's block led to Gelineau's game-closing 3ball from the left wing after DeFeo drove deep into the lane to draw the defense and then he kicked a pass out to Gelineau.
The Golden Bears' offense erupted early, fueled from a collection of different scoring methods, resulting in a 20-7 run by the 12:25 mark. Askew led the attack down low, muscling through defenders, netting the Golden Bears' first two baskets. From the perimeter, DeFeo and Zayas drained early three-pointers and on the fast break, the Golden Bears' guards facilitated an up-tempo attack, which penetrated the Seahawks' defensive schemes. The gym exploded when the Golden Bears forced a turnover, and fed Gelineau on the fast break, where he finished with tomahawk slam-dunk. This extended their lead 17-5.
Both teams exhibited high octane offensive in the first half, constantly pushing the ball and scoring on open chances. At half, the Golden Bears led 40-33 ignited by seven three-pointers. Zayas collected seven of the Golden Bears' 13 assists by halftime, constantly looking to hit the open man.
An 11-3 run by the Seahawks seemed to be a promising offensive spurt, but the Golden Bears' defense regrouped and freshman Lucien Fortier's 3ball extended their lead to 26-18 with 7:16 remaining.
The Golden Bears converted 22 points off of the Seahawks' 12 giveaways. They also compiled 23 assists, compared to the Seahawks' 17.
Askew advanced the Golden Bears' lead to 29-18—posting up, backing down and getting around his defender, while converting on a three-point play. Western New England shot 51.9 percent from field-goal range in the first half, knocking down 14-of-27. They also went 7-for-13 from downtown, resulting in 53.8 percent.
Zayas' defensive prowess was off to an early start in the fresh 20 minutes. He contained his man, stole the ball and when it was trickling out of bounds, dove on it and threw it off a Salve Regina player.
Askew, usually found in the paint, stepped out of his comfort zone and drained a long two pointer, extending the Golden Bears' led to 51-38 to open the second half. Following Askew's long two, the Golden Bears continued to prosper from long. DeFeo rattled a trey in, putting the Golden Bears up by 14 at 54-40 at the 13:30 mark.
The Seahawks went on a 12-0 run, which was interrupted by a trey from Zayas, but continued right after. Another offensive spurt from the Seahawks was a 6-0 push, where they advanced the ball with crisp passing.
Gelineau drained a three-pointer with 2:52 remaining, cutting the Seahawks' lead to two, at 67-65. The Golden Bears then surrendered a basket down low, but regrouped and found Zayas on the fast break, where he was fouled and sank both free throws.
The Seahawks shot 61.5 percent in the second half, and finished with a field-goal percentage of 52.8—higher than the Golden Bears' 46.3. When it came down to the wire, the Golden Bears' shooters converted and the defense stepped up forcing big stops.
Brenden Fowler and Boggs both scored 23 points for the Seahawks, and Scott St. Lawrence added 10.
Western New England plays at University of New England in Biddeford, Maine, on Saturday (3 p.m.), seeking to avenge a 60-58 loss to the Nor'easters in Springfield on Jan. 13.
--Stephen D. Romano