Box Score San Diego, Calif.- Despite getting 21 points and seven rebounds from senior Chris Vallee (Fitchburg, Mass.) the Nichols men's basketball team dropped a 74-60 decision to Heidelberg in the consolation game of the San Diego Surf N' Slam. The Bison trailed by just one at halftime, 35-34, but were outscored 39-26 in the second half. The Student Princes improve to 8-2 on the year with the win while Nichols drops to 2-7. Vallee was named to the All-Tournament Team as he scored 35 total points in two games.

The Bison held Heidelberg to just 26 percent shooting in the first half but a 10-1 difference at the line helped the Student Princes to a one point lead at halftime. Heidelberg went on to shoot 47 percent from the field in the second half while the Bison went cold, going just 8-25. Nichols was held scoreless the first four minutes of the half while the Student Princes ran out to a ten point lead.

A three-point play by sophomore Chris Paquin (Barre, Mass.) cut the lead to five points, 61-56, with 4:46 remaining but back-to-back threes by Heidelberg quickly put the game out of reach for the Bison.

Paquin added 14 points in the loss for Nichols while sophomore Ryan Wilcox (West Granby, Conn.) had eight points and five rebounds.

Nichols will play at the Williams Tournament beginning on Jan. 5 when they will face Southern Vermont in opening round action.