Seahawks top Colonels in OT, 69-67

MILTON, Mass. – Curry College outscored visiting Salve Regina in the second half (36-19) to force overtime, but came up short in a 69-67 loss in Commonwealth Coast Conference men's basketball action Saturday afternoon in Milton. The Seahawks improved to 11-4 overall and 6-2 in conference play, while the Colonels fell to 2-12 overall and 1-7 in CCC action.

With 38 seconds remaining in the first half, Salve Regina took its biggest lead of the game (42-23) after senior Joshua Hohlfelder (Noank, Conn.) split a pair from the charity stripe. Curry trimmed the lead to 17 (42-25) heading into intermission after senior Lambros Papalambros (Quincy, Mass.) sank a jumper at the buzzer.

In the second frame, the Colonels outscored the Seahawks, 34-16, to claim a one-point edge (59-58) with 2:49 remaining in regulation. Senior Jeff Bielefeld (Littleton, Mass.) gave Salve Regina a two-point lead (61-59) with 1:38 on the clock after converting a layup and splitting a pair from the free throw line. Papalambros drew a foul down the other end and knotted the game at 61-61 after sinking two free throws to conclude the second half scoring and force the game into overtime.

Papalambros opened overtime with a made jumper, but the Seahawks scored the next seven points to take a 68-63 lead with 1:14 left in overtime.  Papalambros sank two free throws with 1:04 on the clock and later hit a layup to cut the deficit to one (68-67) with 19 seconds left. The Colonels immediately fouled and Salve Regina missed both free throw attempts. After Curry missed a layup down the other end, the Colonels fouled to send the Seahawks back to the line with three seconds to go. Senior Patrick Dinneen (Medfield, Mass.) missed his first free throw and sank the second, but Curry turned the ball over on the ensuing inbound attempt, accounting for the 69-67 final.

Bielefeld recorded a double-double with team-highs in points (23) and rebounds (11). Hohlfelder added 19 points, while Dinneen chipped in with 12.

Papalambros poured in a game-best 27 points. Senior Carlos Ribeiro (Charlestown, Mass.) and junior Matt Russell (South Portland, Maine) contributed with 12 and 10 points, respectively. Russell also pulled down a team-high eight boards.

Both teams return to CCC action on Tuesday at 7:30 p.m., as Salve Regina hosts Western New England, while the Colonels travel to the University of New England.