DUDLEY, Mass. – The No. 21-ranked Nichols College men's basketball team could not overcome a rough shooting night as Western New England University defeated the Bison 100-94 in overtime in a Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) matchup on Saturday afternoon.
 
The Bison drop to 9-2 overall and 3-1 in the CCC and had their seven-game winning-streak snapped. The Golden Bears improve to 5-5 and 2-3 in league games with the win. Nichols returns to action on Tuesday night when they travel to Curry College for a 7:30 p.m. matchup with the Colonels.
 
Three players eclipsed the 20-point plateau on the day led by 26 points and 12 rebounds from sophomore Jerome Cunningham. Junior Marcos Echevarria also posted a double-double with 21 points and 14 rebounds to go with four assists, while senior Daequon Antoine netted 22 points and added eight rebounds, two assists, and three steals. Sophomore Tyler Dion chipped in 12 points, while freshman Matt Morrow had five points and six rebounds.
 
Western New England junior Mikey Pettway connected on 17-of-24 shots to lead the Golden Bears with 38 points while also adding four rebounds, seven assists and four steals. Sophomore Mike McGuire added 19 points and six rebounds, while sophomore Tim Reilly and freshman Zach Tavitian each tallied 13 points apiece.
 
Nichols had one of its worst shooting days of the season as the Bison only connected on 36.8% (25-of-68) of its field goals, 26.5% (9-of-34) of its three-pointers, and 74.5% (35-of-47) of its free throws. Western New England answered with 51.4% (36-of-70) shooting, including 34.6% (9-of-26) from beyond the arc, and 73.1% (19-of-26) shooting at the free throw line. The Bison dominated the rebounding category, 53-35, but turned the ball over 16 times compared to just 13 for the Golden Bears.
 
The Bison jumped out to an early 14-4 advantage with 14:49 to play in the first half following a score inside from Cunningham that forced a Western New England timeout. The Golden Bears answered with a 16-6 run capped by a triple from freshman Alex Sikorski to knot the game at 20-20 with 9:33 remaining. The two teams traded baskets until a three-point play from Dion staked the home team to a 28-24 lead and 6:49 to play.
 
Western New England responded with a quick 7-0 run to take their first lead of the game at 31-28, and they eventually took a 37-32 lead following a jumper from Pettway with 2:54 remaining in the half. This time the Bison had the answer, using a 10-2 run to end the stanza, capped by a Dion triple, to take a 42-39 lead into the half.
 
Out of the break, the lead changed hands several times until a triple from Antoine at the 10:38 mark gave the game its 10th tie of the contest at 60-60. Western New England build a small 65-61 lead after a McGuire jumper, and Nichols stormed back to take the lead on a three from Echevarria that put Nichols ahead 66-65 and only 6:57 remaining.
 
The two teams went back and forth the rest of the way as the game was tied 77-77 following a pair of free throws from Cunningham with only 1:02 to play in the half. The Bison took a 78-77 advantage with a free throw from Echevarria, and the Golden Bears answered 35 seconds later as McGuire went 1-for-2 at the line to knot the game at 78-78. The Bison had a good look at the game-winner as time expired, but Antoine's triple would not rattle home as the game spilled into overtime.
 
The Golden Bears struck first in overtime with a layup from sophomore Nick DeGennaro, but two free throws followed by an Antoine three gave the Bison an 83-80 lead with 4:06 to play in the extra frame. The two teams traded blows until a jumper from DeGennaro followed by another Pettway basket put the Golden Bears in front, 90-89 with 1:09 remaining.
 
Nichols tried to answer, but a triple from freshman Nate Tenaglia missed and Pettway was fouled on the rebound, leading to a pair of good free throws that put Western New England in front 92-89. Matt Moore went 1-for-2 at the free throw line to keep it a 92-90 game, but the Bison were forced to foul again, and DeGennaro knocked down a pair to extend the lead to 94-90.
 
Tenaglia scored a pair of layups late to keep it interesting, but the Golden Bears went a perfect 6-for-6 at the free throw line down the stretch to pull away for the 100-94 victory.
 
All-Time Series
The Bison and Golden Bears have met 38 times since the series began in 1954 and Nichols leads the all-time series, 24-14. Western New England snapped a four-game losing-streak to the Bison with the win.