SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (February 3, 2024) – The Western New England men's basketball team honored their four seniors prior to today's tip while defeating the Colonels of Curry College by a final score of 94-59. Seniors Mike Resnick, Gavin Greene, Brian Geitner, and Tim Restall were all honored on Saturday, combining for 58 points on the afternoon.

Records:

• Western New England: 16-5, 11-2 CCC
• Curry College: 10-11, 4-9 CCC

How it Happened:

After honoring their four seniors on Saturday afternoon, the Western New England men's basketball team started the Commonwealth Coast Conference game off with a bang, seeing senior Mike Resnick knock down a triple while junior Jake Harrison followed suit, giving Western New England a quick 6-2 lead. Curry would respond to even the score after Jason Romans connected on back-to-back possessions for the Colonels, giving Curry a chance in the contest. Curry would take their second lead of the game at 8-7 when Nick Johnson recorded two free throws. That would be Curry's final lead of the afternoon, as Andrew Byfield would come around with a three to put the Golden Bears ahead. Byfiield and Tim Restall would combine for eight straight Golden Bears points, while Brian Geitner canned a three of his own, giving Western New England an eight-point advantage at the midway point of the first half. Geitner would stay hot, coming off a career night at Suffolk, drilling his second three of the game with 9:23 to play as Western New England took a 21-12 lead. WNE would continue to put on the pressure after Restall threw down a dunk with 5:06 remaining, keeping WNE's double-digit lead intact. Both Jake Harrison and Gavin Greene would record layups for Western New England, while Brian Geitner finished off the first half with his fourth three-ball of the afternoon, giving WNE a 20-point lead at the break, 46-26. Curry shot just 32% from the field in the first half, making 2/10 shots from deep, while Western New England stuck eight threes and 15 total field goals, shooting 53% from the hardwood.

Mike Resnick opened the second half the same way he did the first, dropping a three-ball through the nets as Western New England lead continued to grow. The Golden Bears would be red hot from distance in Saturday afternoon's win, seeing Tim Restall connect from deep while Resnick hit another, giving the Golden Bears a 59-34 lead. WNE's lead increased to 30 after Restall rattled home another three, sinking his second three of the game. Melvin Kolenovic came off the bench and made an immediate impact for the Golden Bears, finishing the afternoon with six points on three of four shooting while grabbing three rebounds. The Golden Bears would maintain a near 30-point lead throughout the second half. WNE's lead extended to 35 when Geitner hit from deep again, his fifth three in seven tries, as the senior finished the game with 17 points on the night. In a classy way, the Golden Bears would sub off each senior from the court one by one, getting a standing ovation from the crowd. Tim Restall finished the night with 22 points, leading the way for WNE; Mike Resnick dropped 13 points, including hitting four three-balls; Gavin Green decreased his point percentage from 1,000, grabbing six points; and Brian Geitner stuck 17 points on five three-balls to round out the senior class. Western New England would finish with points from Jamani Alves, Max Jones, and Arik Dagan as the blue and gold would celebrate senior day with a 94-59 thumping of Curry, winning their fifth straight over the Colonels and second in a row in CCC play to improve to 11-2 overall.

Inside the Numbers:

• The Golden Bears shot 53% from the field in the win, going 16/32 from deep.
• The Western New England bench provided 43 points on the night while grabbing 32 points in the paint as a team. The Golden Bears recorded 16 points off turnovers.
• Curry shot just 33% from the field in the loss, going 2/17 from deep. The Colonels were 19/21 from the free throw line, however.
• WNE turned the ball over just eight times and recorded nine steals, led by three from Jake Harrison.
• WNE defeated Curry this season by an aggregate score of 180-133.

Up Next on the Schedule:

• WNE men's basketball remains at home and will take on Gordon College on Tuesday, February 6, at 7:30 p.m. Currently, Western New England is second in the CCC standings, one half-game behind leading Nichols.