DUDLEY, Mass. – Freshman DeAnte Bruton (New London, Conn.) scored a game-high 30 points in Nichols College's 71-69 loss to Eastern Nazarene College Wednesday evening in Commonwealth Coast Conference men's basketball action at the Nichols Athletic Center.
 
Bruton netted 21 of his points in the second half as the Bison saw their nine-game win streak snapped and suffered their first conference loss of the season. Sophomore and reigning CCC Player of the Week Marcos Echevarria (Lynn, Mass.) scored 15 points but struggled from the field, making five of his 19 field goal attempts. Senior Devin Stallings (Hartford, Conn.) put up 11 points and eight rebounds for Nichols, which shot 40 percent (26-of-65).
 
Senior Corey Doran (Fairfield, Calif.) recorded a double-double with 23 point and 12 rebounds, and scored the go-ahead basket with six seconds remaining on an and-1 play. Classmate Christian Lynch (Alpharetta, Ga.) also dropped in 23 points – making 9-of-10 from the charity stripe – and freshman Josh Rice (Hanson, Mass.) chipped in with nine points and five rebounds. The Lions shot 41 percent from the field, canned 83 percent of their free throws, and outrebounded the Bison 42-38.
 
Nichols took a 36-31 lead into the locker room at halftime behind nine points each from Stallings and Bruton, and six points and five boards from freshman Jerome Cunningham (Westbury, N.Y.). Doran led all student-athletes with 13 points (6-of-10 FG) while Lynch scored 10 points.
 
Bruton converted a layup five minutes into the second half to give the Bison a 10-point lead at 50-40. After the Lyons got to within three points at 50-47, Nichols made another push and regained its 10-point advantage on another layup from Bruton at the 7:01 mark.
 
Leading 69-65 with 1:17 on the clock, Bruton missed three-straight free throws, and a three by Rice from the right corner with 52 seconds to go made it a one possession game. The Bison turned the ball over at the other end of the floor and, on the ensuing possession, senior Anthony Petrilli (Santa Clarita, Calif.) hit Doran on a backdoor cut for a layup. After he made the and-1 free throw, Echevarria missed a long three as time expired.  
 
All-Time Series
Tonight's contest marks the 35th all-time meeting between Eastern Nazarene College and Nichols College. The Bison lead the series, 20-15, but saw their five-game win streak against the Lions snapped with tonight's loss.
 
Next Games
Nichols (11-3, 6-1 CCC) – Saturday, January 14 @ Endicott, 3:00 p.m.
Eastern Nazarene (7-7, 4-3 CCC) – Saturday, January 14 @ Western New England, 3:00 p.m.