WILLIMANTIC, Conn. (November 15, 2023) – The Western New England men's basketball team needed a defensive stand in the final ten seconds of their non-conference game on Wednesday evening, while a mid-range jumper from Gavin Greene would be the difference as the Golden Bears would defeat the Warriors on their home court by a final score of 79-78.

Records:

• Western New England: 2-1
• Eastern Connecticut: 1-3

How it Happened:
The Golden Bears would win the tip and would be off to their first lead of the game when Gavin Greene started off with a good jump shot, as the Golden Bears would rely heavily on their senior all night long. Greene and Mike Resnick would give the blue and gold an early 9-4 lead after the two seniors canned a three and two jumpers to extend their lead. The Golden Bears would take a double-digit lead with 12:58 to play in the first half when Jake Harrison capitalized from distance, while Greene would continue his scoring run, grabbing eight of the first 20 points for WNE in the game. Eastern would cut the Golden Bears lead in half in three minutes of elapsed time when Dan Wellington splashed from three while Jeremiah Graham got into the lane and scored a pair for the Warriors as Western New England would lead 20-15 at the midway point of the half. The Golden Bears would get their double-digit lead back again with six and a half minutes to play in the first half before Eastern Connecticut would go on a 6-0 scoring run to cut WNE's lead to four. The Golden Bears would see Eastern Connecticut ramp up their offense down the stretch and even the score for the first time in the game with 1:15 remaining when Dominick Dao would score to tie the game at 36. Western New England ended the first half on a 5-0 scoring run to take a five-point lead at the break when Jake Harrison hit a running buzzer beating three-point shot to give WNE a 41-36 lead.

The Golden Bears and Warriors would go back and forth to open the second half, as Gavin Greene and Mike Renick would score points to take an early eight-point lead. Eastern Connecticut would quickly cut Western New England's eight-point lead into a two-point lead when Dan Wellington connected from deep while Amarre Spence knocked down two free throws with 14:05 remaining, as the score would move to 51-49 in favor of WNE. Brian Geitner would hit a big three-point shot to stop the mini-Warriors run, while Jake Harrison would continue his offensive dominance, giving Western New England a 56-49 lead. Cade Ensinger would tie the game at 60 and then take their first lead since the early goings of the game when Dan Wellington dropped a three-point shot with 9:17 to play to take a three-point lead. Eastern Connecticut would take a seven-point lead with 5:44 to play when Eastern's Jalen Hamblin drove to the lane and scored a layup. The Golden Bears would need a run to get back in the lead. The blue and gold would even the game when Jake Harrison dropped a three, while Nate Kasper would register offensively to even the score at 71-all with 4:16 to play.

Eastern Connecticut would regain a five-point lead when Cade Ensinger single-handedly gave the Warriors the five-point lead with 3:35 remaining. The Golden Bears would not be able to grab a lead as the Warriors would have an answer for each bucket WNE would score. Jamani Alves would grab back-to-back buckers for the Golden Bears, including a layup inside the paint with 1:22 left as WNE trailed by one point, 78-77. A defensive stand for the Golden Bears would leave the ball in the hands of the Golden Bears as Gavin Greene would connect on a late jump shot with 12 seconds to play to give WNE a 79-78 lead. The Golden Bears would deny Eastern Connecticut a shot on their final possession of the game, winning the game by a final score of 79-78, defeating Eastern Connecticut for the first time in program history.

Inside the Lines:

• Two Golden Bears scored in double figures on the night, both recording over 20 points on the night. Jake Harrison grabbed 26 points on 10-16 shooting, snatching 13 rebounds and collecting six assists on the night, producing his first double-double of the season. Gavin Greene grabbed his second double-double of the season, scoring 21 points while ripping down ten rebounds.
• Brian Geitner, playing a familiar face on the opposing bench, and his father, Bill Geitner, Eastern Connecticut's men's basketball head coach, scored nine points while playing in 28 minutes in the game.
• Jamani Alves shot 3-4 from the field, scoring two clutch baskets down the stretch to give WNE a chance at victory.
• For the game, Western New England shot 58% from the field, including 17/28 in the first half, over 60% from the field.
• ECSU was led by Dan Wellington, who scored 18 points for the Warriors while grabbing seven rebounds and dishing seven assists.
• WNE defeats ECSU for the first time in their three meetings.

Up Next on the Schedule:

• WNE returns home to host their tip-off tournament on Saturday, November 18 and Sunday, November 19. SUNY Cortland, Bates College, and Kean University will be involved.