Box Score NEWPORT, R.I. - Senior guard Justin Woodworth played all 50 minutes and led all players with 29 points as Salve Regina University men's basketball survived a second-half rally by Nichols College to defeat the Bison in double overtime, 102-99, in quarterfinal round action of The Commonwealth Coast Conference Championships.
First-year forward Pete Atkins (Gainesville, Fla.) led Nichols with 23 points and 11 rebounds, while senior forward John Costello (Tolland, Conn.) added 20 points—including eight in the second overtime – and 14 rebounds. Sophomore forward Justin Aldrich (Douglas, Mass.) chipped in with 18 points, including a three-point buzzer-beater to force overtime and the game-tying layup in the first overtime.
Woodworth and sophomore guard Windell Hinkson led the Seahawks in the first period with 12 and 18 points, respectively, as the No. 4 seed built an 18-point halftime bulge (54-36).
The Bison started the second half with a 20-5 run and pulled within three points (59-53) following a 3-pointer from senior guard Jeff Lindgren (Sturbridge, Mass.) with 14:41 remaining in the period. Lindgren had seven points and Aldrich had six points during that stretch where five Bison contributed to the scoring.
Woodworth hit a 3-pointer with 6:27 remaining in regulation and that would be the last field goal of the second half for Salve Regina (14-12; 8-5 TCCC). A pair of free throws from Seahawk sophomore forward Dan Royce with 4:40 remaining in the second half boosted Salve Regina's lead back to double digits (80-70).
After Ryan Wilcox (West Granby, Conn.) and Atkins combined for three of four free throw attempts, Chris Paquin (Barre, Mass.) connected on consecutive field goal attempts and the score was 80-77 with 50 seconds left in regulation.
Salve Regina made just four of eight free throws in the final 33 seconds, and one of those four came from Hinkson with seven seconds remaining for an 84-81 lead. Nichols (13-13; 8-5 TCCC) inbounded the ball and Aldrich launched an off-balance 3-pointer just before time expired; the high-arcing ball swished with zeroes on the clock to force overtime with the game's first tie.
Woodworth hit 3-pointers on each of Salve Regina's first possessions in the overtime periods. An Aldrich layup with 26 seconds left in the first overtime forged the game's final tie (91-91). The Seahawks missed on two field goal attempts in the final seconds of the first extra period.
Following Woodworth's 3-pointer opening the second overtime, Hinkson stole the ball and Royce made a layup at the opposite end for a five-point cushion (96-91). Hinkson later made two free throws with 37 seconds left and the Seahawks reached 100 points for the second consecutive meeting with the Bison
Costello scored eight points inside the paint in the final two minutes of the second overtime, including a layup after a Jermel Walker (Rockledge, Fla.) steal of an inbounds pass to make the score 100-99 with 21 seconds left. Nichols elected to foul Seahawk senior guard Joe DeSantis who swished both free throws for a three-point lead.
Nichols missed two 3-point attempts in the final eight seconds and Salve Regina now advances to the TCCC semifinals for the first time since 2005. The Seahawks play at No. 1 seed University of New England on Thursday (7 p.m.).Nichols wraps up the season at 13-13 overall after making its 10th TCCC Championship Tournament appearance.
Story courtesy Salve Regina University Sports Information
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