All-Time Series & Streaks
Nichols ran its win streak against the Hawks to five in a row – including three-straight in Bristol – and improved to 25-21 all-time against RWU.
 
Three Stars of the Game
1) Nichols senior Gustave Koumare (Harlem, N.Y.) – poured in a season-high 28 points (11-of-17 FG) – including 3-of-4 for seven points in OT; also notched five steals, four rebounds, and four assists in 34 minutes
2) Nichols senior Irving Eggleston (East Lyme, Conn.) – collected 21 points, eight rebounds, four assists, and four steals in 43 minutes; sits 21 points shy of 1,000 for his career
3) Roger Williams freshman Austin Coene (Tyngsboro, Mass.) – recorded a double-double with 16 points and 14 rebounds in 43 minutes
 
Quick Synopsis
Koumare scored seven of his game-high 28 points in overtime as the Bison held off the Hawks, 90-81. The Bison held a three-point lead (72-69) with under a minute to go in regulation when Eggleston fouled sophomore Nick Marini (Loudonville, N.Y.), who was attempting a game-tying three. Marini made all three free throws to tie the game, and Nichols senior Christian Horton (Rutland, Mass.) missed a potential game-winning three at the end of regulation to send the game to overtime.
 
Key Stat of the Game
Nichols held a 24-13 edge in turnovers and, subsequently, a 22-18 edge in points off turnovers. The two schools combined to shoot 9-of-45 from three-point land (20 percent).
 
Turning Point
Koumare scored five points in a span of 29 seconds midway through overtime to give the Bison an 81-76 lead with 2:06 to go. Three free throws from freshman Marcos Echevarria (Lynn, Mass.) and one from Eggleston then pushed the lead to nine and sealed the win.
 
Quick Hits
-Nichols junior Jared Thompson (Scituate, R.I.) canned five 3-point field goals and finished with 15 points. Classmate Devin Stallings (Waterbury, Conn.), meanwhile, scored five points in overtime and finished with 11 while also compiling five rebounds and three blocks.
-The Bison shot 42 percent from the field (34-of-82) while the Hawks made 44 percent of their field goal attempts (31-of-70).
-Both schools shot well from the charity stripe as Nichols made 75 percent of its attempts (15-of-20) and RWU shot 85 percent (17-of-20).
-Junior Jaylen Jennings (Norwalk, Conn.), along with sophomores Andrew Wasik (Gainesville, Fla.) and Marini, each scored 10 points for the Hawks.
 
Next up
Nichols (8-2, 2-1 CCC) – Thursday, January 7 vs Western New England, 7:30 p.m.
Roger Williams (4-7, 2-2 CCC) – Thursday, January 7 @ Endicott, 7:30 p.m.