DUDLEY, Mass. -- DeAnte Bruton tallied 19 points to pace Nichols College in an 86-69 Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) men's basketball victory over the University of New England to wrap up the season on Saturday afternoon (Feb. 18) at the Athletic Center.

With the win, the Bison (20-5, 15-3 CCC) secure the top seed for the upcoming league postseason tournament. Nichols will welcome the Nor'easters (7-18, 5-13 CCC) right back on Tuesday for the quarterfinals, as UNE enters the championship as the eighth seed. Interactive Bracket

Marcos Echevarria supported the hosts with 16 points, six assists, and four steals. Jerome Cunningham logged a double-double of 13 points and 10 boards, helping Nichols finish with a 44-37 rebounding margin.

For the visitors, Jackson McCoy registered a team-high 12 points on 5-of-8 shooting, and added six caroms. Drew Patno contributed nine points and eight rebounds. CJ Autry and Gavin Dibble both went for nine points, as well -- all in the 2nd half.

UNE led, 9-8, approaching the middle of the opening period, before an 18-4 stretch gave the Bison an edge (26-13). The margin topped out at 14 (29-15) and settled on a 34-24 spread at intermission.

Nichols extended the gap to 21 (58-37), and the Nor'easters could only get back as close as 12 (61-49) along the way to the final buzzer. Bruton had 15 points in the stanza to bring home the result, while McCoy dialed up 10 of his points during the last session.