Balanced scoring attack lifts Pilgrims over Seahawks, 64-47

NEWPORT, R.I. - New England College had 11 different scorers in today's lineup, led by sophomore guard Eric Lenahan [Point Pleasant Beach, N.J.] with 13 points, to lift the visitors to their first league victory of the season, 64-47, over Salve Regina University in The Commonwealth Coast Conference men's basketball action at Newport.

Salve Regina had its poorest performance of the season from long distance today (1-for-18 from behind the arc) and relied heavily on the inside work of junior forward Dan Royce [Mahwah, N.J.] who finished with a career-high 27 points. Royce, who notched his 12th double-double of the season (10 boards), also visited the free-throw line a school-record 24 times.

A Royce layup with 12:50 to go in the first half gave Salve Regina its last lead in the contest (10-8), before sophomore forward Eric Eklund [Harrison, N.Y.] made three consecutive layups and the Pilgrims went on a 16-1 run.

Lenahan contributed three of his team's nine 3-pointers and shared team-high rebound honors (six) with sophomore guard Jason Minerve [Narre Warren, Australia]. Salve Regina (2-17; 1-6 TCCC) also had a 10-point effort from the league's leading scorer, Jabreche Boyd [West Haven, Conn.].

The Seahawks host intra-state rival Roger Williams University in a doubleheader on Wednesday; New England College (6-13; 1-6 TCCC), which ended a 10-game losing skid to Salve Regina, returns to the hardwood that night at Milton, Mass., in the new Curry College gymnasium.