Box Score Box Score
DUDLEY, Mass.- The Nichols men's basketball team posted an 89-83 victory over Eastern Nazarene on Saturday in The Commonwealth Coast Conference (TCCC) action. Nichols held a 52-41 lead at halftime but the Crusaders outscored the Bison 42-37 in the second, getting to within two late in the game. Sophomore Bryan Riley (West Boylston, Mass.) secured the win for Nichols, however, scoring all eight of its points the rest of the way.
Nichols shot 48 percent from the field in the first half and out-shot Eastern Nazarene 18-6 at the foul line. The Bison took their largest lead of the half, 50-37, with 2:24 left. Freshman Garret Bishop (Saratoga Springs, N.Y.) led all scorers with 13 points in the half. Sophomore Chris Paquin (Barre, Mass.) added ten. Senior Jean-Paul Marcellus (Dorchester, Mass.) led the Crusaders with 12 points.
The Bison continued their strong play in the second half, holding a 15 point lead, 62-47, with 13:58 left. The Crusaders then slowly started to chip away at the lead, outscoring Nichols 32-19 over the next 12 minutes, eventually getting to within two, 81-79, with 2:17 left.
Riley then took over for the Bison, first draining a three then connected on a lay-up to five Nichols a five point cushion. He then went 3-4 from the foul line in the final 26 seconds seal the win.
Bishop led five Bison scorers in double figures with 19. Senior Chris Vallee (Fitchburg, Mass.) added 15 while Riley posted 14. Paquin finished with 12 points while sophomore Ryan Wilcox (West Granby, Conn.) chipped in with ten. Freshman Chris Smith (Moosup, Conn.) pulled down a game-high 12 rebounds.
Marcellus registered a game-high 30 points, including a 12-12 performance at the line, and nine rebounds for Eastern Nazarene. Senior Luc Jasmin (Pawtucket, R.I.) recorded a double-double with 12 points and 11 rebounds while also scoring his 1,000th career point.
Nichols will host Regis on Wednesday at 8 p.m. while Eastern Nazarene will play at Salve Regina that same night at 8 p.m.
