Salve Regina defeats Endicott, 72-64

NEWPORT, R.I. (February 12, 2022) - Salve Regina University graduate student Cameron Collins (Montville, Conn.) led all players with 20 points as the Seahawks defeated visiting Gulls of Endicott College, 72-64, in Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) men's basketball action at the Rodgers Recreation Center on Saturday afternoon.

The Seahawks (18-5, 13-3 CCC) clinched at least second place in the league standings with just two regular season games remaining and a three-game lead over the next school, Roger Williams University, whom Salve Regina has defeated twice including once this week. Endicott (11-9, 8-7 CCC) has won only once in its last six games.

Despite picking his third foul in the first half, Collins helped Salve Regina shoot 50 percent from the floor (15-of-30) including making half of its 3-point attempts (5-of-10). The game featured five lead changes and seven ties. Salve Regina led by four (35-31) at intermission with Collins and Kevin Kelly (Valhalla, N.Y.) combining for 24 points, 14 and 10, respectively.

Salve Regina had its largest lead (16-6) after senior Mikey Spencer (Abington, Mass.) turned a Kelly steal into a fast break layup. Drew Brown's (Pelham, N.H.) 3-pointer sparked a 15-4 run for the Gulls who took their first lead since the opening minutes at 8:50 after a Stephen Fama (Lynnfield, Mass.) layup.

Kelly opened the second half with a 3-pointer before the visitors went on a 17-4 run to build their largest lead, 48-42, at the 14:11 mark. Clay Brochu's (North Kingstown, R.I.) 3-pointer cut that deficit in half, and Ryan St. Clair (East Weymouth, Mass.) followed a Dillon Grant (Dennis, Mass.) layup with his own 3-pointer.

The game was tied at 50-50, 55-55, and for the last time at 62-62. Brochu broke the deadlock at 2:55 with a trey after being reinserted to the lineup at 3:09. Spencer's triple came shortly after a 30-second timeout from Seahawk head coach Sean Foster just north of a minute remaining. Salve Regina, without a free-throw attempt in the first half, finished the game making 13 of 17 from the charity stripe.

The Seahawks had seven different players hit a 3-pointer. Kelly finished with 18 points while Spencer added 12. Declan Walmsley (Franklin, Mass.) led the Seahawks with four assists. Cameron Ray (Lowell, Mass.) topped the Gulls with 17 points and Jalen Echevarria (Lynn, Mass.) came up next on the scoresheet with 15 points. The Gulls outrebounded the Seahawks, 40-35, led by Fama with eight boards. Collins had seven caroms for the Seahawks.

Salve Regina hosts Western New England University on Wednesday, February 16 at 7:30 p.m.