Box Score

BEVERLY, Mass. - Senior Ryan Sheehan (North Attleboro, Mass.) scored a game-high 25 points in Nichols College's 76-71 win at Endicott College in Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) action Wednesday evening.

Sophomore Jalen Hurst (Hartford, Conn.) added 14 points while junior Marlon Bennett (Stratford, Conn.) chipped in with 11 off the bench as the Bison improved to 10-4 on the season (6-1 CCC) and snapped the Gulls (11-3, 5-2 CCC) seven-game win streak. Junior Joe Gallant (Salem, N.H.) led the team in rebounding with six caroms while blocking five shots.

Nichols took over sole possession of first place in the league as the only remaining team with just one conference loss. Sheehan led the visitors down the stretch as he netted 15 of his game-high 25 points in the second half. He connected on 8-of-15 attempts from the floor – including four-of-five from 3-point range and five-of-six at the free throw line.

With just a one-point lead at halftime for Endicott, Nichols came out of the locker room with a 14-5 run to take control of the game. Sheehan converted a couple of three-point attempts during that stretch while classmate Sam Horning (Falmouth, Maine) added another five points.

The Gulls responded as freshman Max Motroni (West Warwick, R.I.) initiated a barrage of three-pointers for Endicott. Motroni hit three triples in a span of two minutes to pull Endicott within four, and junior Andre Makris (Southbury, Conn.) added another to make it a one-point game with 13:51 remaining in the second half.

Nichols pushed its lead back up to five following a three-point basket by Bennett, but baskets by junior John Henault (Lunenburg, Mass.) and senior Greg Jacques (Brockton, Mass.)tied the game at 61 with 8:06 to go. The two teams exchanged the lead over the next five minutes.

A layup by Nichols sophomore Christian Horton (Rutland, Mass.) put the Bison up 65-64, and another Sheehan jumper extended the lead up to three with 2:37 on the clock. After a Gulls free throw, Nichols came out of a timeout with a devastating three-pointer by Sheehan to make it a five-point game in favor of the Bison with only 1:15 to go. 

Endicott received a late three by Jacques with 13 seconds remaining, but free throws by Horton and Sheehan helped put the game away.

Endicott was led by Motroni's 15 points with Makris and Jacques contributing with 11 and 10 points, respectively. Freshman Daquan Sampson (Germantown, Md.) nearly recorded his third double-double of the season with nine points and 10 boards – three of which were offensive.

Nichols hosts Wentworth Saturday at noon. The Gulls host Western New England Saturday at 3 p.m.

Contributions from Endicott sports information