DUDLEY, Mass. – Sophomore Jalen Hurst (Hartford, Conn.) scored 13 points and was one of three Nichols College student-athletes to reach double figures in a 75-63 win over Wentworth Institute of Technology Saturday afternoon in Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) men's basketball action at the Nichols Athletic Center.
The win snaps a six-game losing streak against the Leopards and moves the Bison to 11-4 (7-1 CCC) on the season. Nichols has now won seven in a row and nine of its last 11, and the seven-game win streak matches the program's longest since the 1965-66 season when it reeled off eight-straight wins from January 21, 1966 to February 22, 1966.
Senior Ryan Sheehan (North Attleboro, Mass.) scored 16 of his 18 points in the second half and classmate Sam Horning (Falmouth, Mass.) added 11 points and six rebounds in 22 minutes of action. Nichols shot 43 percent from the field and only committed 10 turnovers.
Wentworth (8-7, 5-3 CCC) was paced by freshman Jherson Colon (Boston, Mass.), who dropped in 16 points on 6-of-18 from the field. Junior Ray Bessette (Dedham, Mass.) knocked down three triples off the bench and finished with 13 while junior John-Michael Fragnoli (Scotia, N.Y.) chipped in with 11 points.
The Bison led wire-to-wire in the contest and went up by as many as nine in the first half before settling in for a six-point halftime lead (30-24). Hurst and Horning each had six points to pace Nichols while junior Matt Langadas (Sebago, Maine) went for six. Bessette canned a pair of treys en route to 10 first-half points. Each team shot the ball well as Nichols sank 14-of-29 (48 percent) while Wentworth nailed 11-of-26 (42 percent).
The Leopards opened the second half with five-straight points to cut their deficit to one at 30-29. Junior Joe Gallant (Salem, N.H.) answered with a layup, followed by a three-point play by Sheehan, to push the lead back to five. Minutes later, back-to-back baskets from junior Chris Johnson (Mansfield, Mass.) and classmate Marlon Bennett (Stratford, Conn.) give Nichols a 12-point lead at 51-39.
Wentworth climbed to within five points on four different occasions during the final 14 minutes of the second half – the last of which came with 4:03 to play on a jumper by Fragnoli. Nichols responded with a free throw from Bennett, a layup from Gallant and a three-ball from Sheehan – his only triple of the night – to make it 69-58 with 2:40 left on the clock.
Nichols rattled home 20-of-26 from the charity stripe (77 percent) and scored 15 points off 12 Wentworth turnovers. The Bison connected on a total of seven 3-pointers, led by Hurst with three.
The Bison return to action on Tuesday with a 5:30 p.m. contest against Eastern Nazarene. Wentworth hosts Endicott Tuesday at 7:30 p.m.
(Recap courtesy of Nichols Sports Information)
March 3, 2014
Colon Named CCC Rookie of the Week
February 27, 2014
Men's Basketball Falls to Gordon in CCC Semifinals
February 25, 2014
Mayo, Colon Named All-Commonwealth Coast Conference
February 25, 2014
Men's Basketball Pulls off Upset at Eastern Nazarene
February 22, 2014
Men's Basketball Edged in Regular-Season Finale
February 22, 2014
CCC Men's Basketball Tournament Pairings Set
February 19, 2014
Strong Second Half Powers Endicott Past Men's Basketball
February 15, 2014
Men's Basketball Edged at Roger Williams
February 12, 2014
Donato's Buzzer Beater Lifts Men's Basketball Past Western New England
February 8, 2014
Men's Basketball Suffers Setback at Eastern Nazarene
February 4, 2014
Men's Basketball Cruises to 10th Win of the Season
February 1, 2014
Second Half Run Pushes Gordon Past Men's Basketball
January 29, 2014
Men's Basketball Sees Three-Game Skid Come to and End
January 23, 2014
Endicott Works Overtime to Defeat Men's Basketball
January 20, 2014
Colon Repeats as Rookie of the Week
January 18, 2014
Men's Basketball Falls at Nichols
January 15, 2014
Men's Basketball Holds on For Win
January 13, 2014
Colon Earns CCC Rookie of the Week Honors
January 11, 2014
Men's Basketball Rallies Past Roger Williams
January 9, 2014
Men's Basketball Win Streak Halted by Eastern Nazarene
January 7, 2014
Long-Range Shooting Helps Men's Basketball Win Third Straight
January 4, 2014
Strong Defensive Effort Lifts Men's Basketball to Win at Gordon
December 31, 2013
Men's Basketball Rolls to Win Over Maine-Fort Kent
December 30, 2013
Vassar Fends Off Men's Basketball
December 9, 2013
Colon Earns CCC Rookie Rookie of the Week Honors
December 7, 2013
Balanced Attack Paces Men's Basketball to Win over Curry
December 4, 2013
Men's Basketball Falls in Conference Opener
November 26, 2013
Men's Basketball Pulls Away in Second Half
November 25, 2013
Turner Named CCC Men's Basketball Rookie of the Week
November 23, 2013
Tufts Rallies in Second Half to Defeat Men's Basketball
November 21, 2013
Clark Overtakes Men's Basketball in Second Half
November 16, 2013
Late Run Pushes Framingham State Past Men's Basketball
November 15, 2013
Men's Basketball Opens Season With a Win
November 15, 2013
Men's Basketball Picked to Finish Seventh in CCC Pre-Season Poll
October 19, 2013
Five Inducted Into Athletic Hall of Fame
July 23, 2013
Arlen Galloway Named Head Men's Basketball Coach