Seahawks race to 24-2 start in first 10 minutes to trump Wildcats, 79-46

NEWPORT, R.I. (Saturday, November 11, 2023) -- Salve Regina University men's basketball led wire-to-wire in a season-opening 79-46 victory over visiting Johnson & Wales University in non-league action at the Rodgers Recreation Center on Saturdday afternoon.

The Seahawks (1-0, 0-0 NEWMAC) were paced by four players in double figure scoring including a double-double for James Jolly (Kingston, England) with game highs in points (19) and rebounds (10).

INSIDE THE MATCHUP
Final: Salve Regina 79, Johnson & Wales 46
Records: Salve Regina (1-0, 0-0 NEWMAC), Johnson & Wales (0-1, 0-0 GNAC)
All-Time Series: Salve Regina improves to 14-7 all-time against Johnson & Wales in a series that started in 1994 on the hardwood floor of the Rogers High School gymnasium. The Seahawks have won the last three meetings after the Wildcats had won four consecutive from 2007 through 2010.

SUMMARY:

• 1H -  Senior captain Clay Brochu got the scoring started with a layup on the second Seahawk possession. He added another fast break layup for a 4-0 lead before Aireus Raspberry put the Wildcats on the board in the game's third minute with a driving layup. Salve Regina went on a 20-0 run that began with a 3-pointer from Declan Walmsley. Sean Seymour's free throw made it 24-2 for the Seahawks at the 10:55 mark in the first half. Clay Brochu's 3-pointer at 5:24 peaked the first-half advantage at 30 points (38-8). Johnson & Wales then enjoyed its best run of the afternoon (11-0) to cut its deficit in half (38-19). Miles Fiore grabbed a defensive rebound to key a fast break layup for Walmsley for the final basket of the half. Fiore and Brochu led the Seahawks with 12 and 11 points, respectively. James Jolly had six boards at the break and Declan Walmsley grabbed five. | Seahawks 40, Wildcats 19
• 2H -  Salve Regina had two 3-pointers in the first half and Clay Brochu knocked down a pair of treys to start the Seahawk second-half scoring. Declan Walmsley converted a turnover and second-chance opportunity with a turnaround jumper in the paint to conclude a 16-0 Seahawk run with the score at 62-23. Brady Spencer's 3-pointer at 9:15 matched the largest lead, 39 points at 66-27. James Jolly scored 10 of his game-high 19 points in this period while going 4-for-4 from the line. Salve Regina improved its shooting accuracy by nearly three percent from the first half -- 43.6% to 46.4%. -- and made all 10 of its free throws in the final 20 minutes. Declan Walmsley dished four assists. | Seahawks 77, Wildcats 46

NOTEWORTHY:

• Salve Regina wins its first season opener since an 80-79 triumph over The College of New Jersey in the 2015 Wheaton College Tip-Off Tournament.
• James Jolly led all players in scoring (19) and rebounding (10) for his first career double-double.
• Clay Brochu (17), Miles Fiore (14), and Declan Walmsley (13) joined Jolly in double-digit scoring.
• Brady Spencer finished with nine points off the bench.
• Walmsley led all players with eight assists; Vinny Ferrari was next with six helpers.
• Jolly had a game-high five steals. He added two blocked shots as well.
• Aireus Raspberry led the Wildcats with 18 points while Josh Zangerle added a dozen.
• Salve Regina scored 44 of its 79 points in the paint.
• The Seahawks made 14-of-17 from the charity stripe for an 82.4 free-throw percentage.

QUOTING COACH FOSTER ON X

.@SalveBasketball opened the 2023-24 campaign with a 24-2 run to draw high praise from head coach Sean Foster '97 #goSeahawks https://t.co/bpeEcUvAYf pic.twitter.com/ofKUWcENEx

— Salve Regina Sports (@SalveAthletics) November 11, 2023

ON THE HORIZON:
Salve Regina visits UMass Boston for a 7 p.m. tip-off on Tuesday, November 14.