Hanlon's career high leads to Seahawk win

WENHAM, Mass. - Salve Regina University sophomore guard Barrett Hanlon (Hopkinton, Mass.) scored a career-high 32 points to lead the Seahawks to an 88-81 victory at Gordon College on Saturday.

It was a tale of two halves, as the Salve Regina Seahawks rebounded from a 19-point deficit in the first half to rally past the host Gordon 88-81. The Scots held a double-digit lead at halftime after putting on a shooting clinic in the first half, but Hanlon took over the game in the second half to aid Salve Regina's efforts toward an improbable comeback on the road.

Defense was hard to come by in an electric conference matchup on Saturday afternoon. The two teams combined for 169 points, which is one of the highest single-game totals for any game in the CCC this season.

Despite blizzard-like conditions approaching the North Shore, Salve Regina made the trip to Wenham for an important game in the CCC standings. The Seahawks entered the game two games behind the Scots for second place and hoped to get revenge for a loss to Gordon in Newport, R.I. back in January.

Gordon began the game on one of the most impressive runs they've sported all season long. Led by the hustle of senior Alex Carnes (Phoenix, Ariz.) and heady play of Dominic Paradis (Rochester, N.H.) the Scots opened a 16-4 lead less than five minutes into the game.

Salve Regina attempted a rally of its own, but the Scots answered each one of their baskets to stave off any thoughts of a comeback early on in the game. The Seahawks were unable to get the Scots' lead under double digits and a barrage of seven made triples expanded Gordon's advantage to as many as 19 points with less than five minutes remaining in the half.

The Scots led by 18 points with 1:35 on the clock after another made three by Paradis, but untimely turnovers in the final minute allowed the Seahawks to end half on a positive note with a 9-2 run. Gordon's lead stood at 45-34 as the two schools headed to the intermission.

Salve Regina started the second half the same way the Scots had begun the first, with a helping of long distance shooting. The Seahawks quickly erased the Scots' 11-point advantage and Hanlon pulled the teams even at 53 points aside with 13:11 on the clock.

After losing the lead for the first time in the game, Carnes countered with a rare four-point play that had the Bennett Center crowd on its feet. The aura of comeback was short lived as the Seahawks went on 13-7 run to build their largest lead of the game at five points and just under seven minutes to play.

Carnes brought the Scots back again with made threes on back-to-back possessions to make it a 75-74 game with 4:42 remaining in regulation. However, Carnes would curiously not attempt another shot in the game despite going 10-for-14 from the floor.

Hanlon and senior Patrick Dinneen (Medfield, Mass.) made a plethora of free throws down the stripe as Gordon went cold on the offensive end. The Seahawks pulled away in the closing minutes to even the season series and move just a game below the Scots in the CCC standings.

Hanlon was unconscious shooting the ball in the second half and finished with 32 points, while only missing five of his 17 attempts. Dinneen also had a strong second period and finished with 18 points, four assists and two steals. Scott St. Lawrence and Brenden Fowler each had nine points off the bench for the Seahawks.

Carnes was just as good as his counterpart, Hanlon, finishing with 27 points, two assists and four boards. Paradis had a career game with 16 points in his second start of the season. Park Thomas (Scottsdale, Ariz.) had an unconventional double-double with 12 points and 11 assists. His dish totals are the highest of his senior season.

Luke Hamilton (Mount Airy, N.C.) finished with 10 points at shooting guard. Udoka Obiora (Boston, Mass.), getting extended minutes due to depth issues in the post, posted a great defensive effort with six rebounds and a game-high five blocks.

Gordon falls to 13-9 and 11-5 in CCC play, while the Seahawks improve to 15-8 overall and 10-6 in conference.