Box Score

DUDLEY, Mass. -- Seniors Ryan Wilcox and Bryan Riley combined to score 46 points to lead the Nichols College men's basketball team to an 84-60 The Commonwealth Coast Conference win over the University of New England in the season finale for both teams Saturday afternoon.

Wilcox scored a game-high 24 points on 10-for-12 accuracy from the floor, while Riley tallied 22 points on a 9-for-15 shooting performance. Wilcox grabbed a game-best nine rebounds, while Riley dished out a game-high seven assists. 

Nichols (14-10, 7-6 TCCC) received a strong supporting performance from Chris Paquin, who contributed 13 points, eight boards and three steals.

Sophomore Anthony Johnson led the Nor'easters with 15 points, while classmate Marcus Winn had 12. Junior Kadare Brown added nine points and six steals.

Trailing 22-20 with 8:49 remaining in the first half, the Bison closed the frame on a 22-11 run to claim a 42-33 advantage heading into the break.

UNE would get as close as six (42-36) early in the second half, but Nichols would gradually pull away and held a double-digit lead the majority of the period. 

The Bison shot a sizzling 63.5 percent (33 of 52) for the afternoon and made 13 of 14 free throw attempts. They also held a 45-25 advantage on the glass to help overcome 26 turnovers.

The Nor'easters (11-13, 7-6) converted just 21 of 68 (30.9 percent) of their field goal attempts, including 7 of 35 from long range.

UNE is seeded sixth for the upcoming TCCC Championship and will travel to No. 3 Curry College on Tuesday (Feb. 23) for a quarterfinal-round game. Tip-time is slated for 7 p.m.

(edited Feb. 20, 2010 | 7:50 p.m.)