Statistics

DUDLEY, Mass. -- An early 2nd-half spurt of 12-2 and then a 10-0 run later in the period separated Nichols College from the University of New England in an 88-65 Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) men's basketball decision at the NC Athletic Center on Saturday afternoon (Dec. 4).

While the Nor'easters were up four early, the Bison rattled off 12 straight in the latter portion of the 1st stanza to take the lead for good (35-24). Jaekwon Spencer hit back-to-back treys to cap the stretch. The difference was eight (45-37) at the break after a late three-pointer from Ric Castillo cut into the deficit.

Castillo had the spread down to five (45-40) when Nichols logged its first run to permanently push the margin into double digits (57-42). UNE was still hanging around with nine minutes remaining (64-54), but Jason O'Regan dropped in eight of the next 10 to pad the Bison cushion.

O'Regan paced the hosts with 21 points, and Spencer tallied 20 -- the pair combined for 11 triples (5 and 6, respectively). Jakigh Dottin posted 17 points and seven assists, and Matthew Alectus added 10 off the bench. Nichols (7-0, 1-0 CCC) shot 32-for-64 from the field in the contest, and out-scored the visitors by 12 (42-30) from downtown.

Castillo led the Nor'easters (1-9, 0-3 CCC) with 15 points and seven rebounds. Anthony Senesombath, Alex Kravchuk, and James DeCrisantis all registered nine points. Drake Gavin corralled a game-best 10 rebounds. UNE slid from 45 percent shooting (14-for-31) in the 1st frame back to 40 percent (25-of-63) by the end of the match.

UNE will resume its CCC schedule on January 4 at Curry College, but will travel to Division I University of Maine-Orono in an exhibition on December 18.