DUDLEY, Mass. (1/6/2026) – The Nichols men's basketball team returned to conference play on Tuesday, January 6th with a gritty, 79-71 victory over Wentworth Institute of Technology inside the Nichols Athletic Center.

Nichols moves to 8-6 (3-2) on the season, while Wentworth remains in search of their first win of the season at 0-12 (0-5 CNE).

For the sixth time this season, Olivier St. Louis was a double-double performer for the Bison, this time notching 14 points and 10 rebounds. Javen Flowers-Smith tied for the Nichols lead in scoring with 19 points in the effort, matching Dominic Mello. Flowers-Smith also delivered a team-high six assists and three steals, as well as five rebounds. From the floor, the Bison shot 25-of-60 (41.4%) with 6-of-19 (31.6%) success from three, and 23-of-26 (88.5%) from the charity stripe.

The opening half was a feeling-out period, as both teams struggled to convert early opportunities until Flowers-Smith slipped a perfect backdoor pass to St. Louis for the game's first basket. That play ignited the Bison, who quickly seized control with an early eight-point run highlighted by back-to-back corner threes from Luke Chapman and Mello. Wentworth responded with a triple of their own and slowly chipped away, turning the game into a back-and-forth battle. A nine-point Leopards run pulled them within one at 25–24, but Nichols answered angrily. The Bison closed the half on a decisive 10–0 surge, sparked by free throws from St. Louis, and headed into the locker room with a 37–27 lead.

Nichols carried that momentum into the second half, as Flowers-Smith opened the scoring with a layup to push the lead to 12. The Bison continued to pour it on, stretching the advantage to as many as 14 and appearing firmly in control. Wentworth refused to fade, finding its stroke from beyond the arc and relentlessly attacking the paint to keep pressure on Nichols. With three minutes remaining, the Bison clung to an 11-point cushion, leaning on suffocating defense down the stretch. Darrell Hardge anchored that effort, wreaking havoc in passing lanes and forcing Wentworth into difficult, late-clock shots. When it mattered most, Nichols sealed the victory at the free-throw line, with Mello calmly sinking the final two shots as time expired, securing a hard-fought 79–71 win for the Bison.

Men's basketball continues conference play on the road at Roger Williams University (8-5, 4-0 CNE) this upcoming Saturday, January 10th. Coverage begins at 3:00 PM inside the RWU Campus Rec Center Gymnasium.