Men's Basketball Battles Nichols in CCC Quarterfinals

DUDLEY, Mass. – Six Nichols College men's basketball student-athletes scored in double figures, including senior Jaekwon Spencer (Bristol, Conn.) who led the way with 20 points as the top-seeded Bison defeated ninth-seeded Wentworth Institute of Technology, 93-86, in a Commonwealth Coast Conference quarterfinal.

With the win the Bison improve to 23-3 overall, while the Leopards see their season end with a 10-16 mark. Nichols will host fourth-seeded Suffolk in one semifinal on Thursday night.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE:

LEADING SCORERS:  Trey Carrier, 20; Jack Connell, 17; Sam Goy, 13; Kyle Henseler, 10
LEADING REBOUNDERS:  Goy, 12; Stewart, 10; Carrier, 7
ASSIST LEADERS:  Carrier, 4; Tommy Dooling, 3

HOW IT HAPPENED:

• After Nichols scored on its first possession, Wentworth used a 10-2 run and took an 10-4 lead on a senior Trey Carrier (Wilton, N.H.) basket. A 14-4 Bison run gave the hosts an 18-14 lead when Spencer hit a three with 11:26 left in the half. The Bison upper their lead to 24-16 when graduate student Matthew Alectus (Hollywood, Fla.) hit a three a minute and a half later, however, Wentworth cut the lead to 31-27 after Carrier made a jumper with 5:17 left.
• The Leopards battled back to tie the game at 38-all on a sophomore Sam Goy (Derry, N.H.) layup with 1:23 left, however, the Bison quickly answered with a three-point play by freshman Tahmeen Dupree (New Britain, Conn.) and led, 41-38, with 68 seconds left in the half. Junior Tommy Dooling (Mansfield, Mass.) hit a three 21 seconds later to tie the game before senior Jason O'Regan (Charlton, Mass.) made a layup late in the half, giving Nichols a 43-41 lead at the break. The Black & Gold shot 50 percent from the floor in the first half.
• Nichols opened the second half on a 21-5 run, taking a 64-48 lead after O'Regan made a layup. Goy ended the run with a three pointer and hit a second three after a junior Jack Schaake (Hampton, N.H.) layup to cap off an 8-0 run and cut the lead to eight (64-56) with 12:32 left. The Bison went on a 9-2 run and took a 73-58 lead after Alectus made two free throws but Wentworth answered with a 12-2 run, cutting the lead to just five (75-70) after a freshman Tyler Stewart (East Taunton, Mass.) layup with 6:34 left.
• Spencer followed with a jumper before one of two free throws from Stewart made it 77-71 with 4:57 left. A 12-2 Bison run gave the hosts some separation, taking an 89-73 lead with 2:02 left.
• In addition to Spencer's 20 points, Alectus and graduate student Matt Morrow (Leicester, Mass.) each scored 17. Junior Jakigh Dotton (Cambridge, Mass.) and Dupree scored 13 and O' Reagan added 11.
• Carrier ended his spectacular senior campaign with 20 points, giving him 11, 20-plus point games in the 23 games in which he played. Eight of those came in the last nine contests. Connell scored a career high with 17 points, Goy recorded a double-double (13 points, 12 rebounds), and senior Kyle Henseler (Coventry, R.I.) wrapped up his career with a 10 point night. Stewart grabbed 10 rebounds as Wentworth had a 48-41 advantage on the glass.

NOTEWORTHY:

• The Leopards finished with 10 wins, marking the seventh time in eight seasons of competition under head coach Arlen Galloway Wentworth has won 10 or more games.

SERIES NOTES:

• Tonight was the 53rd all-time meeting between the two teams. Nichols leads, 30-23. This was also the sixth postseason meeting with Wentworth holding a 4-2 edge.

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