SPRINGFIELD. Mass. (January 27, 2024) – The Western New England men's basketball team never held a lead in Saturday's blue-out game from the Anthony S. Caprio Alumni Healthful Living Center, seeing the Bison of Nichols College take the top spot in the CCC standings, defeating the Golden Bears on their home floor for the second straight regular season, taking down WNE 92-82.

Records:

• Western New England: 14-5, 9-2 CCC
• Nichols College: 16-3, 9-1 CCC

How it Happened:

Nate Duckworth opened the game with a three-ball for the Bison that gave Nichols the lead, a lead that the road team would hold for the remainder of the contest. Western New England's first point of the game came on a Jake Harrison free throw, though the first field goal of the game for Western New England would not come until the Bison would already hold an 8-1 lead when Jake Harrison put down a three on an assist from Tim Restall as the lead would get down to four. Nichols had an answer for nearly every shot from the Golden Bears on the afternoon, with Mykel Deering connecting on a three just 11 seconds after Harrison put Nichols ahead again by seven. Nichols lead would grow to 11 points when Dominic Mello dropped a driving layup to give Nichols a 21-10 lead. Brian Geitner would come around with a three to keep WNE in the first half, though Deshaun Nettles would drop a hook shot on the WNE defense to put the Bison ahead by ten again. Geitner would get the Nichols lead down to six with a three and then five with a heat check three after a made Nettles basket. The senior would shrink Nichols lead with 5:42 to play, though the Bison would get those points back and then some when Mykel Deering struck again from the perimeter, giving Nichols a 35-26 lead. Cody Palazzesi would save the first half for the Golden Bears by dropping a three-ball, as Nichols would take a 40-33 lead at the end of the half. The Bison shot 13/29 from the field, though they sank seven of their 13 three-point shots and seven of their eight free throws to take the lead over WNE. The Golden Bears hit just 12 field goals, six of those coming from three in the first half.

Tim Restall grabbed the first layup of the half for the Golden Bears, though Deering would carry his momentum over from the first half to the second half, cashing in from three. Gavin Greene would hit back-to-back layups for the Golden Bears while scoring an and-one opportunity, as the lead would get down to five points with 17:20 to play in the second half. Tavon Jones, who was held quiet in the first half after picking up three quick fouls, came alive for the team in green in the second half, answering two of Greene's points with a driving layup of his own. Dominic Mello would sink a three as Nichols lead would quickly go back to ten. Matt Houde scored four straight for the Golden Bears, though once again, they were answered by the Bison, who went on a 5-0 run to take a 14-point lead. That double-digit lead for the Bison would hold until an 8-2 run for Western New England with 3:32 to play in the half would see WNE trail by nine after Matt Houde dropped a three. Big free throws down the stretch would fall for Nichols, while Deshaun Nettles would put the game away for the Bison with an open layup as the Bison would come to Springfield and take down the Golden Bears by a final score of 92-82.

Inside the Lines:

• Nichols saw three of their own score at least 20 points, with Mykel Deering and Dominic Mello leading the way with 22 points each. Deshaun Nettles scored 20 points on 9/10 shooting for the Bison.
• Nichols shot 60% from the field in the second half, including 5/7 from three. The Bison shot 12/20 from deep in the win.
• Despite seeing five of their own score in double figures, the Golden Bears would shoot 44% from the field. Gavin Green recorded 20 points, five rebounds, and an assist in the loss.
• Jake Harrison collected 18 points and six rebounds. Matt Houde recorded the unconventional double-double, knocking home 13 points and ten assists for WNE. Brian Geitner (13 points) and Tim Restall (12 points) also recorded double figures for the Golden Bears.
• WNE is now 2-13 against Nichols on their home floor.

Up Next on the Schedule:

• WNE looks to rebound on Wednesday, January 31 at 7:30 PM when they travel to Suffolk University.