DUDLEY, Mass. – Freshman DeAnte Bruton (New London, Conn.) led five Nichols College student-athletes in double figures with a game-high 30 points in a 104-85 win over Gordon College in Commonwealth Coast Conference action Saturday afternoon at the Nichols Athletic Center.
 
Bruton made 12 of his 21 field goal attempts (57 percent) while sophomore Marcos Echevarria (Lynn, Mass.) collected 22 points – 14 of which came in the second half – and became the 28^th student-athlete in program history to reach the 1,000-point mark for his career with a triple at the :47 mark of the first half. He also notched eight assists, seven rebounds, and four steals.
 
Senior Devin Stallings (Waterbury, Conn.) filled the stat sheet with 15 points, four rebounds, two steals, and two blocks for NC while freshman Jerome Cunningham (Westport, N.Y.) posted 11 points, nine rebounds, three assists, and two steals. Classmate Tyler Dion (Barre, Mass.) netted 16 points on a perfect 5-of-5 from the floor.
 
The Bison knocked down 56 percent of their shots (39-of-70) and committed just five turnovers while forcing 14, which led to 21 points. They also made 13-of-16 from the charity stripe (81 percent). Gordon held a 45-31 edge on the glass and made 48 percent of its shots. Sophomore Garrisson Duvivier (Brockton, Mass.) paced four Fighting Scots in double figures with 20 points to go with seven rebounds and two blocks. Senior Sam Johnson (Chatham, Mass.) racked up nine points and a game-high 14 boards.
 
Gordon built an early nine-point lead (16-7) behind six points from Duvivier and four from Johnson. Nichols responded with a 22-6 run as Bruton netted seven during the run and Cunningham scored five, including an and-1 play at 7:29. With 47 seconds remaining in the half, Echevarria banged a three to surpass the 1,000-point mark.
 
Bruton led all student-athletes with 16 points in the first half while Echevarria chipped in with eight. Sophomore Noah Szilagyi (Highlands Ranch, Colo.) paced Gordon with eight points off the bench and Johnson racked up seven points, eight boards, and two blocks. Both teams shot over 50 percent through the first 20 minutes.
 
A triple from Stallings and a layup from Dion to open the second half helped Nichols build a 12-point lead that was cut to three following a layup from junior Graham Tienhaara (Holden, Mass.) at 14:27. Nichols began to pull away with about seven minutes to go, taking a 14-point lead following a pair of free throws from Cunningham at the 6:45 mark. Dion made a layup at 4:02 to make it 88-72 before canning a three with 2:09 to go that extended the lead to 20 points (96-76).
 
All-Time Series
Today's contest marked the 41st all-time meeting between Gordon College and Nichols College. The win extends the Bison's win streak to six and they now lead the series, 22-19.
 
Next Games
Nichols (14-5, 9-3 CCC) – Tuesday, January 31 vs Western New England, 7:30 p.m.
Gordon (11-8, 8-4 CCC) – Tuesday, January 31 vs Curry, 5:30 p.m.