PROVIDENCE, R.I.  â€" Junior forward Jim Bayne (Bristol, CT) had 17 points and 12 rebounds for his tenth double-double of the season as the Western New England College men's basketball team defeated host Johnson & Wales 69-64 University for its eighth consecutive victory Saturday afternoon (Feb. 10).

This is the longest win streak in seven years for the Golden Bears who are now 16-7 overall and 13-2 in the Great Northeast Athletic Conference.

Sophomore forward Kyle Fredette (Wallingford, VT) had one of his games of the season with 16 points, nine rebounds, and three blocks.

Junior guard Ryan Hernandez (Hampton Bays, NY) added 11 points and four boards coming off the bench while sophomore guard Matt Maynard (Paterson, NJ) also was in doubel figures with 10 points. Senior center Deon Thomas (Albany, NY) chiopped in with nine points and four rebounds in a reserve role.

It was a close first half with the Golden Bears taking a slim 28-27 lead into the locker room.

Fredette hit a jumper to give the Blue and Gold a 42-36 lead with 14:37 left in the game. The Wildcats went on a 12-4 run to take a 46-44 edge with 10:38 remaining in the contest. Both teams traded leads with the game then tied at 60-60 with just over two minutes left.

Hernandez then buried a three-pointer to give Western New England College the go-ahead points.

Senior guard Japhet Kerr led J&W with 17 points while senior forward Tirone McRay added 16. The Wildcats fall to 7-15 overall and 5-8 in the GNAC.