Box Score

BANGOR, Maine – Junior Marlon Bennett (Stratford, Conn.) poured in a game-high 23 points in Nichols College's 88-81 loss at Husson University Sunday afternoon in non-conference men's basketball action at Newman Gymnasium.

Senior captain Ryan Sheehan (North Attleboro, Mass.) added 18 points as the Bison slipped to 3-3 with the loss. Sophomore Gustave Koumare (Harlem, N.Y.) registered eight points, four rebounds, four assists and one steal off the bench while classmate Christian Horton (Rutland Mass.) recorded seven rebounds, three points, three steals and two assists.

Senior Phil Leighton (Naples, Maine) was one of five Eagles (4-0) in double-figures with 18 points to go along with nine boards and four steals. Senior Brooks Spaulding (Fairfield, Maine) chipped in with 14 points, five rebounds and two steals while senior Donte Cottonham (Silver Spring, Md.) went 4-for-4 from three-point land and finished with 13 points.

Husson shot 57 percent in the first half (19-of-33) and led by 17 at the break. Cottonham scored nine points while Leighton and Spaulding added 10 each. Sheehan led Nichols with nine while Bennett had eight and senior Sam Horning (Falmouth, Maine) had six.

The Eagles lead swelled to 20 points (68-48) with 9:08 remaining in the second half, and a jumper by Spaulding with 5:49 on the clock made it 74-53. The Bison outscored the home team 28-14 down the stretch and cut their deficit to nine on a three by Bennett with 1:44 to go. Freshman Jared Thompson (Scituate, R.I.) then canned a three with 47 seconds on the clock to bring Nichols to within five at 84-79 before Leighton sank four of six free throws to squash the comeback.

Nichols outrebounded the Eagles 40-38. Each team was below 70 percent from the free throw line as Husson was 22-of-32 (69 percent) while the Bison were 18-of-27 (68 percent).

The Bison open Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) play on Wednesday with a home contest against Roger Williams at 7:30 p.m. Husson hosts Thomas (ME) Tuesday at 5:30 p.m.