DUDLEY, Mass. – The Nichols College men's basketball team had five players reach double-figures in scoring as the Bison cruised to a 116-85 win over the University of New England on Saturday afternoon in a Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) matchup in Dudley, Mass.
 
The Bison (18-3, 12-2 CCC) scored 72 points in the second half en route to their highest scoring output since a season-opening 117-72 win over Newbury back on November 15. Nichols has now won four-straight and look to keep rolling on Wednesday night when they travel to Salve Regina University for a 7:30 p.m. tip-off.
 
Sophomore DeAnte Bruton shot an efficient 8-of-15 from the field, including 5-of-8 three-pointers, on the way to a game-high 25 points with eight rebounds, two assists, and two steals. Junior Marcos Echevarria added 20 points, six rebounds, and three steals, and has scored at least 20 points in four-straight games and in eight of his last nine times on the floor.
 
Freshman Nate Tenaglia matched a career-high with 18 points, including 10-of-10 free throws, to go with four assists. Sophomore Jerome Cunningham returned to the lineup to post a double-double of 18 points, 10 rebounds, and three steals, while classmate Tyler Dion was the final Bison in double-figures with 11 points. Freshman Matt Morrow and sophomore Dakotah Nicoll each grabbed seven boards on the day and combined for 13 points.
 
UNE (9-12, 7-7 CCC) was led by 12 points from freshman Alex Kravchuk. Senior Ryan Matthews and junior Daron Hoges, Jr. added 10 points apiece, with freshman Matt Lorman adding nine points.
 
The Bison shot 47.2% (34-of-72) from the field, 38.9% (14-of-36) from beyond the arc, and 79.1% (34-of-43) at the free throw line in the win. The Nor'easters shot 39.7% (27-of-68) from the floor, connecting on 38.2% (13-of-34) of their triples and 75% (18-of-24) of their free throws. Nichols won the rebounding margin, 49-38, and committed only 14 turnovers compared to 23 for the visitors. The game was marred by whistles as the two teams combined for 57 fouls in the contest, including 37 in the second half alone.
 
It was a back-and-forth battle to start the game as UNE took a 7-4 lead following a triple from junior Drew Patno, but the Bison answered with a 9-0 run – including a three from Echevarria and back-to-back monster dunks from Jerome Cunningham – to take a 13-7 advantage with 16:22 remaining. The Nor'easters answered with four-straight points and Nichols responded with another run as a layup from sophomore Kash Jackson capped an 11-0 stretch to give the Bison a 24-11 lead with 13:01 to play.
 
A pair of Nate Tenaglia free throws extended the lead to 39-25 with 6:39 remaining, but UNE ended the half on a 15-5 run to trim the deficit to 44-40 headed into the break.
 
Out of the half, Nichols used a 19-6 run capped by a three from Echevarria to put Nichols back in front 63-46. A triple from UNE sophomore Avery Debrito made it a 64-52 game, but the Bison were not done as a pair of Nicoll free throws at the 11:29 mark staked Nichols to an 82-56 lead, ending an 18-4 run.
 
UNE would only get as close as 21, while the Bison lead grew to as many as 37, as Nichols cruised to the 116-85 victory. The Bison shot 48.7% (19-of-39) from the field in the second half, including 42.1% (8-of-19) from beyond the arc, and 81.3% (26-of-32) at the charity stripe.
 
All-Time Series
Saturday was the 29th meeting between the two programs and Nichols improves to 23-5 in the series. The Bison avenged a 99-85 setback to the Nor'easters back on January 22.