BEVERLY, Mass. – The Endicott men's basketball team defeated a Nichols squad that was previously unbeaten in CCC play this season by a score of 85-80 and in the process won their eighth straight contest while halting the Bison's 12-game winning streak. Two 20-plus point efforts from sophomore guards Kamahl Walker (Worcester, Mass.) and Max Motroni (West Warwick, R.I.) helped the Blue and Green run their 2014-15 record up to 17-5 (13-2 CCC).
Endicott and Nichols split their two regular season games with both teams defending their home court. The Gulls go on the road Saturday to face CCC opponent Curry (4-17, 2-12 CCC) who they beat 82-59 back on January 10th courtesy of 17 points off the bench from sophomore guard Drew Sawyer (Norwalk, Conn.). Tip-off with the Colonels is at 3:00 p.m. in Milton, Mass.
Nichols (17-5, 14-1 CCC) travels to the University of New England (6-16, 4-11 CCC) on Saturday for a 3:00 p.m. tip-off with the Nor'easters. The Bison won handily 100-46 in their first regular season meeting one month ago as junior guard Gustave Koumare (Harlem, N.Y.) netted a game-high 27 points in the win.
The Gulls utilized strong three-point field goal defense in the opening half against the league's top shooting team from beyond the arc to hold Nichols to just 26 points and 3-of-15 from long range. Endicott would build a double-digit lead by the midway point of the first half and take their largest lead of the game (19 points) with 1:25 remaining until halftime. Motroni scored 13 of his 23 points on a flawless shooting performance in 18 first-half minutes, knocking down all four of his shots including three from three-point range. Walker added 10 while six points off the bench from Sawyer, all in successful press break opportunities, helped to fuel Endicott's first half offense. The Gulls led 44-26 at the break.
The second half, however, belonged to the Bison who found their shooting touch and aggressiveness on the boards to outscore Endicott 54-41 in the period. Nichols shot 54% overall in the second half, 41% (7-of-17) from behind the three-point line, and outrebounded the Gulls 27-14. The conference's second-leading scorer, junior guard Irving Eggleston (East Lyme, Conn.), as well as Koumare and Christian Horton (Rutland, Mass.) all scored in double figures in the second half to pull the Bison to within single digits down the stretch.
Eggleston and Horton would both have a team-high 18 points, Koumare added 16 points, and senior Matt Langadas scored 11 but 4-of-4 free throws in the final 22 seconds by Motroni helped to put the game away. Gulls sophomore guard Stephen Basden (Lynn, Mass.) also had a strong second half, scoring six of his nine points including 4-of-6 at the line. Basden also finished with seven rebounds, two assists, and two steals.
Endicott's senior forward Andre Makris (Southbury, Conn.) provided an offensive spark at times with seven points while factoring in defensively with two blocks and a steal.
Endicott shot 45% from the field in the win, 45% (9-of-20) from three-point range, and 67% (20-of-30) at the free throw line. Endicott's assist-leader in the game was Walker with five while Basden, Motroni, and senior forward Tell White (New Castle, N.H.) all had two. Walker and Basden each had two steals as the Gulls were able to generate 16 points off turnovers.
Nichols finished the game shooting 43% overall and 31% (10-of-32) from beyond the arch while hitting 6-of-7 free throw attempts. Eggleston completed the double-double by grabbing 11 rebounds, six on the offensive glass, to go along with his 18 points. Nichols outrebounded Endicott 41-37, including a 15-11 edge on the offensive boards which helped the Bison produce 17 second chance points. Langadas led the Bison with four assists as he was able to penetrate the lane and find open teammates.