MILTON, Mass. (January 6, 2024) – The Western New England men's basketball team was lifted by four double-digit scorers on Saturday as Jake Harrison, Matt Houde, Tim Restall, and Gavin Greene all came away with a helping hand in the Golden Bears 86-72 victory on Saturday afternoon in Commonwealth Coast Conference action over hosting Curry College.

Records:

• Western New England: 9-4, 4-1 CCC
• Curry College: 6-7, 0-6 CCC

How it Happened:

A slow offensive start to the game would see only nine points in the first five minutes of the game. Tim Restall would open the scoring for the Golden Bears, playing in his third game of the season. Jake Harrison would get on the board after scoring just three points in two games in the New Year, connecting on an offensive rebound layup to get Western New England out front early. Cody Palazzesi would dial up a three-point shot while a pair of free throws would go down for Harrison, giving WNE a 13-2 lead six minutes into the game. Curry would have an answer for Western New England's run, scoring ten straight points to cut the lead to just one in a two-minute span. WNE would answer with a made layup and foul shot from Nate Kasper, while Tim Restall and Jake Harrison would continue their offensive attack, giving WNE a 21-14 lead. Down the stretch to halftime, both teams would go point-for-point, with WNE retaking a double-digit lead after Matt Houde connected on a three-ball with 5:11 left to play in the half, giving the Golden Bears a 31-19 lead. Brian Geitner would score five points to end the half, which gave Western New England a 42-29 lead after 20 minutes of play. The Golden Bears would shoot 15/29 from the field, knocking down five three-point shots in the first half while going 7/10 from the free throw line. Curry only cashed in on ten field goals in the first half while making just 1/9 three-point attempts.

The hosts opened the scoring in the second half before the Golden Bears would be able to respond with back-to-back hoops from Gavin Greene, giving western New England a 46-31 lead. In total, Greene would record the first six points of the half for the blue and gold. Matt Houde would go perfect from the arc in Saturday's win, knocking down a three with 12:57 to play in the game to put Western New England ahead 55-40, while the combination of Tim Restall and Jake Harrison would strike again, putting WNE ahead by 17 points with 10:57 left. Through the middle of the second half, both teams would go basket for basket, with WNE maintaining the 17-point lead. The lead would get as big as 23 points for the Golden Bears after Matt Houde would splash his fifth three-point shot of the afternoon, going 5/5 from deep, while Jake Harrison would attack the basket and score with 3:11 to play to give the Golden Bears an 82-59 lead. Curry would sink a three with 26 seconds left in the game, though it would not be enough as the Golden Bears would take an 86-72 victory, defeating Curry for the fourth straight matchup. WNE shot 66% from the field in the second half while cashing in four three-point shots. The Colonels had a much better shooting afternoon in the second half, shooting 47% from the field and connecting on six three-pointers in the loss.

Inside the Lines:

• For the third straight game, the lead belonged to Western New England from the start and never left the hands of the blue and gold.
• Junior Jake Harrison led the way with 18 points, shooting 7/10 from the field while knocking down two threes', snatching seven rebounds, and dishing three assists. The South Boston, Massachusetts, native collected two steals in the win.
• Tim Restall and Matt Houde both dropped 17 points for WNE in the win. Restall converted seven field goals while ripping down four rebounds, getting two blocks, two steals, and an assist. Houde cashed in all five of his three-point shots on the afternoon while grabbing three rebounds, an assist, and a steal.
• Gavin Greene has scored in double figures in all but one game this season, averaging 15.5 points per game, scoring 12 points in the win over Curry this afternoon. The senior shot 6/9 from the field while grabbing six rebounds. Two assists and a steal.
• As a team, WNE shot a tick under 60%. The Golden Bears got 31 bench points on the afternoon and 17 points off turnovers.
• WNE improves to 20-10 all-time against Curry since 2004.

Up Next on the Schedule:

• The Golden Bears are 3-0 in the New Year and look to remain unbeaten on Tuesday, January 9, at 7:30 p.m. when Suffolk University visits Springfield.