SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (February 7, 2026) – The men's basketball program recognized its senior class today before the contest with the Fighting Scots, a game that saw the visitors lead by as many as 15 before WNE outscored them 47-25 in the second half to secure a Conference of New England victory. 
 
Records:

• Western New England: 16-5, 10-2 CNE
• Gordon College: 6-16, 5-8 CNE

 How it Happened:
First Half:

• The Fighting Scots started the game on fire. They opened up a 16-2 lead on the back of seven Alex Daniel points and five Chiko Kalu points. Five Matt Houde points would stymie the Gordon momentum momentarily before Gordon would get to a 15-point lead with just over ten minutes left in the half.
• Isaac Jarvis had joined the two players previously mentioned for Gordon with a big opening first half, having eight points early in the contest.
• The Golden Bears responded with a 10-0 run, which saw Avery Mickens and Nate Kasper drill threes to get the Golden Bears back in the game.
• The teams would go shot-for-shot for a little while before the Fighting Scots earned another 14-point lead with 3:31 left in the first half. Alex Daniel had reached 14 points in the first half and would end with 18.
• Avery Mickens tried his best to keep the Golden Bears in the game, scoring ten points in the first half. The first-year knocked down two of four three-pointers taken.
• Mickens could only help so much as WNE would trail by 11 at the end of the first half, 37-26.

• The Golden Bears shot a dismal 45% from the floor in the opening half, chucking up 18 threes, making just four of those. Gordon hit 47% of their shots, going 16/34 from the floor. 

Second Half:

• Looking for a second-half comeback, the Golden Bears scored the opening seven points in the first four minutes Matt Houde and Luka Vlajkovic combined for the early scoring for Western New England, getting the Golden Bears back within four, 37-33. Alex Daniel, who was hot all afternoon for the Fighting Scots, hit a triple to stop the Western New England run and kept Gordon ahead, somewhat comfortably. Houde put together a special second half, hitting from the outside to cut Gordon's lead down to two with 13:56 remaining. 
• Gordon fought back with the next five points to retake a seven-point lead as the game crossed the midway point of the second half. Needing a spark, the Golden Bears saw Avery Mickens pick up the next five points in between a dunk from Gordon's Isaac Jarvis as WNE then trailed 49-45. Mickens got hot from the field for the Golden Bears, clawing Western New England all the way back to take their first lead of the game with 6:59 remaining in the half when the Newington, Connecticut native splashed a triple to get himself over 20 points in the game that saw the Golden Bears lead 54-53, forcing a timeout from Gordon. 
• Mickens hit again with the game tied at 56 with just over five minutes left to play in the half, bringing the crowd to its feet. The Golden Bears rained in another triple with four minutes remaining when Luka Vlajkovic splashed a three to give the Golden Bears a 62-58 lead with 4:10 remaining. 

• Gordon stayed close, within three points, until Houde hit from deep with 2:25 left to bring WNE's lead to six. The Fighting Scots ended the game with one point over the final 2:39 of action, while the Golden Bears were solid at the free throw line to close the game out, seeing a double-digit win come out of senior day, 73-62.  

Inside the Lines:

• Just four Golden Bears scored to combine for the 73 points in the win, three of which were in double figures. Avery Mickens, Western New England's sharp-shooter, drained 25 points on 10/13 shooting, going 5/7 from the outside. Mickens also picked up four rebounds and a steal. 
• Matt Houde's career-high of 24 points came on five field goals, hitting three from the outside, while going 11/12 from the free throw line to aid the Golden Bears. Houde picked up eight assists and four rebounds as well as a pair of steals in the win.
• Luka Vlajkovic continued his dominance for the Golden Bears, picking up another double-double, going for 15 points and 18 rebounds. 
• Nate Kasper scored nine points on four made field goals to cap off the WNE scoring on the afternoon. 
• Three Fighting Scots were in double figures, with Alex Daniel leading the way with 24 points on 9/20 shooting, going 4/9 from the outside. 
• WNE honored their five seniors on Saturday: Luka Vlajkovic, Nate Kasper, Matt Houde, Max Jones, and Cody Palazzesi. Thank you, seniors, for all you have done for WNE men's basketball!

Up Next on the Schedule:

• The Golden Bears are back in action at home on Wednesday, February 11, 2026, as WNE hosts the Roger Williams University Hawks at 7:30 PM.