WESTFIELD, Mass. (Dec. 8) – Sophomore forward Pete Atkins (Gainesville, Fla.) poured in a career-high 33 points to power Nichols College to an 82-67 non-conference men's basketball victory over Westfield State on Tuesday evening. Atkins becomes the first Nichols player to net 33 points since 2006.

Atkins, who also had a game-high eight rebounds, was averaging 6.8 points while playing in four of the first six games for the 5-2 Bison. The 6-3 forward scored 22 first-half points, including four 3-pointers in staking Nichols to a 39-31 halftime lead.

Atkins opened the game with a 3-point basket as the Bison never trailed and bolted to a 12-4 lead after four minutes. Westfield (5-3) made numerous runs but Nichols withstood all Owl comeback attempts.

Nichols worked its motion offense well and was highly effective from the foul line. The Bison only made 20 field goals in the game but they shot 81 percent from the charity stripe, canning 38 of 47 free throws.  Atkins made 13 of 14 free throws. The Owls were whistled for 32 fouls, Nichols 20.

Westfield did cut the lead to a point, 27-26, with 5:25 remaining in the first half, but Atkins drilled another three.

The Bison held a 12-point lead early in the second half, then Westfield cut the lead to four points, 54-50, with 12:52 remaining on a jumper by Anthony Griffin. Westfield trailed by seven with 4:57 remaining when Nichols began its march to the foul line.

Also scoring in double figures for Nichols were senior guard Bryan Riley (West Boylston, Mass.), who scored 20, while senior forward Ryan Wilcox (West Granby, Conn.) and sophomore guard Michael Salis (Nashua, N.H.) each added 10. Riley recorded six steals in the game.

Senior guard Derek Leab led Westfeld with 15 points. Griffin had 12 markers and reserve forward Chris Jurkowski added 10. The Owls were 22 for 52 from the field and 20 for 28 from the foul line.

Justin Lewis was the last Bison player to net 33 points, hitting the mark on January 17, 2006, against Wentworth. Atkins' previous career high was 27, set against Gordon last season.

Nichols will put its three-game win streak on the line Thursday in a 7:30 p.m. game at Suffolk (4-3). 

Story courtesy Westfield State Sports Information

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