Box Score SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (January 8,2022) – The Western New England University men's basketball team returned to the court for the first time in over a month and did not miss a beat in CCC play as they were able to improve to 2-2 in conference play after taking down the University of New England Nor'easters on Saturday afternoon by a final score of 81-66.
Records:
- Western New England: 4-6 (2-2 CCC)
- University of New England: 1-10 (0-4 CCC)
How it Happened:
Western New England got the ball rolling around the rim and into the nets off the tip as WNE made the first basket of the game off a driving layup from Kenny Flynn. The Golden Bears would be stumbled by the offensive of the Nor'easters as UNE came out with a quick 5-0 run after the bucket from Flynn to take a 5-2 lead. Flynn would record the first six points for Western New England in the contest. Western New England put on an 8-0 run at the 13-minute mark of the first half as Tim Restall and Brian Geitner were able to contribute their first points on the scoreboard for the Golden Bears.
The Nor'easters would cut WNE's lead to one at 10:40 off a three point make from Ric Castillo, though the Golden Bears would make a run of their own as Geitner stuck two triples in a row to give WNE a seven-point lead again. Restall would continue his work under the basketball for the Golden Bears, connecting on free throws, layups, and knocking down his only attempted three pointer of the half to give the Golden Bears an eight point lead at the midway mark. Western New England would extend their lead off great passing from Alex Sikorski who fed Gavin Greene for a jump shot make. Down the stretch Jake Harrison, Mookie Lester, and Flynn would carry the Golden Bears to a nine-point first half lead. In the half the Golden Bears shot 48% from the field, including 5/16 from three-point range. Restall came away with eight first half rebounds, while Sikorski was held off the scoreboard, though dished out seven assists.
The second half brought more success for the Golden Bears as Sikorski was able to get on the board for the first time in the contest. Greene opened the scoring in the half with a layup for the Golden Bears while the Nor'easters would not go away in the contest getting within seven points of the lead with 16 minutes to play. Sikorski's three with 15:49 to play in the contest bumped the Golden Bears lead to ten. A 7-0 run for the Golden Bears stretched a ten point lead into a 17 point lead, capped off by hot shooting from Sikorski and Restall.
Western New England would continue their dominance on the glass and in the offensive half court, leading by as many as 20 with just over six minutes to play in the contest. The Nor'easters would attempt to make a small run at cutting the Golden Bears lead down, though the lead was too much for the University of New England to trim. Alex Kravchuk's layup with 4:18 to play gave him 30 of UNE's 60 points on the night. Western New England would make back to back defensive stands to keep UNE from creeping back into the contest. A Sikorski three would put the dagger into the contest as the Golden Bears would outshoot the Nor'easters, coming up with an 81-66 victory, the 6th straight victory over UNE in the program's 25th meeting.
Inside the Arc:
- Alex Sikorski shot 7/12 from the field in the second half to finish the afternoon with 21 points and added ten assists, seven coming in the first half to push the Golden Bears to victory.
- Tim Restall finished a productive 7/7 from the field, including knocking down his only three-point shot as well as knocking down three free throws to finish with 18 points in the game. Restall came away with ten rebounds to also finish with a double double.
- Gavin Greene scored 14 points for WNE (6-11 FG, 2-5 FT) as well as collecting 12 rebounds for the Golden Bears to finish with the third double double for WNE.
- WNE out rebounded the Nor'easters 44-30, including 31-19 on the defensive end.
- Overall, the Golden Bears shot 49.2% from the field (31-63 FG, 11-27 3PT). UNE managed to shoot 37.3% from the field (25-67 FG, 7-21 3PT).
- UNE was led by graduate student Alex Kavchuk, who poured in 30 points on the Golden Bears, while knocking down two three-point field goals. UNE had three total in double figures.
Up Next on the Schedule:
- Western New England hits the road to take on Wentworth Institute of Technology (4-5, 1-2 CCC) on Wednesday, January 12 at 7:30 pm. No spectators will be allowed. WNE returns home on Saturday, January 15 at 3:00 pm to host Salve Regina University.
- UNE travels to Curry College on Monday, January 10th for a CCC match with the Colonels.
