Bison escape with 67-66 win over Seahawks

NEWPORT, R.I. (December 1, 2021) - Four-time defending champion Nichols College (6-0, 1-0 CCC) erased a 14-point first-half deficit and held on for a one-point victory (67-66) over Salve Regina University (4-3, 0-1 CCC) in the Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) opener for both men's basketball teams at the Rodgers Recreation Center on Wednesday night.

After Jaekwon Spencer (Bristol, Conn.) gave the Bison a 7-6 lead at 15:41 in the first half, Seahawk graduate student Kevin Kelly (Valhalla, Conn.) answered with a 3-pointer that started a 19-4 run for Salve Regina. Mikey Spencer (Abington, Mass.) finished a driving layup for the basket that gave the Seahawks the 25-11 lead. Nichols responded with a 25-8 run of its own to gain a three-point edge, 36-33, after senior Matt Alectus (Hollywood, Fla.) drained a long trey. Alectus drew a foul on another three during the run that completed a four-point play after his free throw.

Cameron Collins (Montville, Conn.) made a pair of free throw in the final minute of the first half and the teams went into the break separated by one point, 38-37, in favor of the visitors. Salve Regina led 14:05 of the first half, but Nichols had the edge when it finished.

The Bison built their largest lead in the first eight minutes of the second half, 51-46, after Jakigh Dottin (Cambridge, Mass.) hit a three and Matt Morrow (Leicester, Mass.) had a jump shot in the paint. The Seahawks took a three-point lead, 58-55, with a 12-4 run highlighted by eight points from senior forward Chris Peasley (Plainfield, Conn.). Andrew Richards (Rosedale, N.Y.) converted a steal by James Jolly (Kingston, England) into an easy layup and the three-point cushion.

Jaekwon Spencer's 3-pointer tied the score at 58-all, and then added a layup after a Seahawk turnover, before Clay Brochu's (No. Kingstown, R.I.) 3-pointer on a fast break gave the Seahawks their last lead, 61-60, with 4:25 remaining. Back-to-back threes from Tahmeen Dupree (New Britain, Conn.) and Jaekwon Spencer gave the Bison another five-point advantage. Nichols would make only one free throw after taking the 66-61 lead with 2:39 remaining.

Collins had a second chance layup after a Bison turnover in the final minute and Declan Walmsley (Franklin, Mass.) finished the scoring with a 3-pointer and 23 ticks left on the clock before sending Dottin to the line for a one-and-one. Dottin missed the first and the ball caromed out of bounds last touched by the Bison. Mikey Spencer got a deep 3-point attempt off with three seconds on the clock and the rebound fell to Walmsley but time ran out before another shot.

Peasley finished with a double-double (12 points, 11 rebounds) and added four blocked shots for the Seahawks. Collins led Salve Regina with 14 points before fouling out. Spencer also reached double-digit scoring for Salve Regina with 11 points and added eight rebounds.

Spencer led all players with 16 points for the Bison who went 11-of-29 from long range. Alectus added 15 points including three threes. Dottin contributed 10 points while Morrow led all players with a dozen rebounds.

The Seahawks travel to Beverly, Mass., for another CCC matchup with Endicott College on Saturday (3 p.m.). Nichols will host the University of New England on Saturday in Dudley, Mass.