Wheaton sweeps season series from Salve Regina

NEWPORT, R.I. (Saturday, February 3, 2024) - After trailing 7-0 over six minutes into the contest, Salve Regina University men's basketball finally got the lid off the basket with a pullup jump shot from junior captain Declan Walmsley (Franklin, Mass.) at 13:43. The Seahawks eventually led the Lyons, 14-13, after back-to-back 3-pointers from senior captain Clay Brochu (North Kingstown, R.I.) and Walmsley, but visiting Wheaton College wound up winning by 17 (65-48) in NEWMAC action at the Rodgers Recreation Center on Saturday afternoon.

Sophomore Eoin Morrissey (Watertown, Mass.) scored the game's first basket off the opening tap from junior Duncan Bubar (Newton, Mass.). Sal Pedevillano (Pasippany, N.J.) led all players with 22 points including four 3-pointers. Morrissey had a game-high nine rebounds for the Lyons (12-8 overall, 6-6 NEWMAC) to go with his 13 points. Walmsley and Brady Spencer (Pembroke, Mass.) each scored a dozen points to pace the Seahawks (10-12 overall, 4-9 NEWMAC) who suffered their sixth consecutive loss.

INSIDE THE MATCHUP
Final: Wheaton 65, Salve Regina 48
Records: Salve Regina (10-12, 4-9 NEWMAC), Wheaton (12-8, 6-6 NEWMAC)
All-Time Series: Wheaton wins the season series and now leads the all-time series, 16-7. The Lyons have won the last three meetings.

SUMMARY

• 1H - Sophomore Eoin Morrissey scored the game's first basket off the opening tap from junior Duncan Bubar. After trailing 7-0 over six minutes into the contest, Salve Regina finally got the lid off the basket with a pullup jump shot from junior captain Declan Walmsley at 13:43. The Seahawks eventually led the Lyons, 14-13, after back-to-back 3-pointers from senior captain Clay Brochu and Walmsley. Morrissey answered with his own trey and the Lyons were back on top the rest of the way. Morrissey and Sal Pedevillano led all players with 11 points apiece -- tying Salve Regina's total score for the period. Brochu's nine points paced the Seahawks. | LYONS 29, SEAHAWKS 22
• 2H - Sal Pedevillano opened the second-half scoring with a 3-pointer on the Lyons' first possession. After Khaled Thayer made a layup at 16:03, Wheaton maintained a double-digit advantage the remainder of the game. Markus Nordin's triple with just over a minute to go gave the visitors their largest lead of the game (65-42) before Salve Regina brought the final margin down to 17 points with 3-pointers from Walmsley and Spencer in the last 60 seconds.  | LYONS 65, SEAHAWKS 48

NOTEWORTHY

• Sal Pedevillano led all players with 22 points including four 3-pointers.
• Salve Regina had three players in double figures -- Declan Walmsley (12), Brady Spencer (12), and Clay Brochu (11).
• Eoin Morrissey also scored in double digits for the visitors (13 points) and led all players with nine rebounds.
• Walsmley and Sean Seymour both grabbed a team-high seven rebounds, all off the defensive glass.
• Seven different Seahawks had at least one assist to total 11 in the game; two each from JoJo Powers, Declan Walmsley, Sean Seymour, and Vinny Ferrari.

QUOTING COACH FOSTER

"Our execution level was not where it needed to be today. Unfortunately we couldn't convert the many open shots we created. Our group will keep working through the offensive struggles we've had and hopefully come out with a renewed focus for the next contest." -- Salve Regina head coach Sean Foster '97

NEXT UP
Salve Regina regroups until traveling to Babson College next Saturday for a 1 p.m. tip-off.