SPRINGFIELD, Mass. – A last-second layup in overtime sealed a massive Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) victory for Nichols over Western New England on Saturday afternoon by the score of 83-81. With the win, Nichols moves into a first-place tie in the CCC with an overall record of 14-5 and 10-2 in the conference. Western New England drops to 14-4 (10-2 CCC) on the season.
 
The Bison dominated the glass in the first half, out-rebounding the Golden Bears 21-11. 12 points from senior Quincy Ferebee helped Nichols to a 41-35 lead at the half.
 
In the second half, Western New England chipped away at the Bison lead, eventually knotting the score up at 44 with 14:52 left to play. Nichols went on a 7-0 run to take a 51-44 lead, but the Golden Bears responded with their own run to tie the game back up at 53. The teams traded baskets over the course of the next 10 minutes, with Nichols taking a five-point lead with 2 and a half minutes left to play. Western New England was able to pull within two in the final minute and after a made free throw by the Bison the Golden Bears hit a deep three-pointer to tie the game up at 71. Both teams would miss jumpers in the final seconds and the game headed to overtime.
 
Western New England struck first in OT with a pair of free throws to take a two-point lead. Matthew Alectus answered with a three to give the Bison the lead with 3:18 remaining. The Golden Bears used a couple of trips to the line to open up a four-point lead, but a Tavon Jones layup and a pair of Alectus free throws tied the game up once again. After the Bison took a 1-point lead with another Alectus free throw, Western New England answered with a layup to give them the lead back with 42 seconds remaining. A missed three by the Bison forced them to foul with hopes to extend the game. Western New England went 1-2 from the line and Alectus tied the game up at 81 with a layup at the other end. A defensive stop by Nichols with five seconds left led to a quick timeout with a chance to draw up a play and return home with a win. Out of the timeout, Ferebee took the inbounds pass the length of the court and went up for the layup. The ball rattled around the rim, eventually falling through the net with just a fifth of a second remaining. Alectus stole the ensuing Hail-Mary inbounds pass and the Bison came away with a thrilling CCC win.
 
Jones led the way for the Bison with 21 points while going 9-13 from the foul stripe. Ferebee stuffed the stat sheet with 20 points, 8 rebounds, and 4 assists, as Alectus recorded his 13^th double-double of the season with 18 points and 14 rebounds.
 
The Bison look to push their win streak to nine when they travel to take on Endicott on Wednesday, February 1 at 7:30 p.m. in another CCC matchup.