Salem State Men’s Basketball Tops WPI 96-91
WORCESTER – Sophomore Sean Bryan (Lowell, MA) and senior Shaquan Murray (Boston, MA) led Salem State with 18 points apiece, including the game-tying 3-pointer by Bryan to send the game into overtime, as the Vikings defeated host WPI, 96-91, in a non-conference men’s basketball showdown Saturday in Harrington Auditorium. Engineer senior Chris Rodgers (Franklin, MA) poured in a career and game-high 31 points to go with eight rebounds, five assists and a steal.
Salem State, who came into the game riding momentum following wins over Tufts and Babson, improves to 7-2 as WPI closes out the term with a 5-4 ledger.
In all, 10 student-athletes scored in double digits, including four of the five starters for each squad. In addition to Murray, junior Tyreik McCauley (Worcester, MA) added 16 and Matthews finished with 11. Bryan led the bench as senior Jacob Lindland (Hamilton, MA) contributed with 11. Healy went on to total nine as he, McCauley and Matthews combined for 24 of the teams 34 rebounds. Matthews amassed eight steals and Bryan also featured six assists on his stat line.
Freshman Dakota Wheeler (Easthampton, MA), three assists, and Needleman each scored 13 as Stephenson posted a dozen. Freshman Reid Walker (Lithia, FL) led all players with 12 rebounds to go with a trio of helpers.
WPI had advantages in rebounds (44-34), including 23-9 margin on the offensive end of the court, second chance points (22-14) and points in the paint (52-36). Salem State’s bench accounted for 29 of the game’s 44 points by the reserves as the team also had the edge in points off turnovers (21-18) and fast break points (6-2).
The Engineers head to Wooster, Ohio for the “Mose” Hole/Wooster Kiwanis Classic later this month. WPI and host Wooster meet at 7pm on the 29th and will face either Alma or Emory & Henry on the 30th. Salem State hosts Endicott Tuesday at 7pm.
Endicott Men’s Basketball Tops Bridgewater 84-76
BRIDGEWATER – Behind a game-high 28 points from sophomore guard Keith Brown (Pelham, N.H.), the Endicott men’s basketball team defeated Bridgewater State University (BSU), 84-76, on Saturday afternoon at the Tinsley Center.
Brown scored his 28 points on 8-of-24 shooting, including a 4-for-13 showing from three-point range and an 8-for-9 performance at the line. Brown also added nine rebounds and two assists to his stat line in the win.
The Gulls also received double-digit scoring efforts from Vinny Clifford (Danvers, Mass.), Matt McDevitt (Cumberland, Maine), and Joel Villa (Bronx, N.Y.). Clifford led the trio with 13 points, while McDevitt compiled 11 and Villa had 10.
Tied 50-50 with 11:13 to play, Endicott went on a 13-6 run to jump out to a seven point lead, and never looked back as the Gulls maintained their lead the rest of the way. Villa highlighted the run with an and-one conversion at 8:43 (EC 60-56) and a McDevitt capped the spurt with a trey at 8:07. Joe Shehadi (Dorset, Vt.) also buried a three-pointer, while Brown and Jordan Pettway (Bridgeport, Conn.) scored one basket each during the run.
BEYOND THE BOX SCORE
Today’s game featured seven ties and nine lead changes. The last tie occurred at the 11:13 mark of the second half (50-50).
Endicott extended its lead to as many as nine points (84-75) on a pair of free throws by Villa with 14-seconds remaining.
BSU brought the game within one possession on two separate occasions (65-62, 5:48 | 71-68, 2:51) late in the second half, but Brown answered with a three-point dagger each time to fend off a comeback from the Bears.
With today’s win, Endicott evened up the all-time series against BSU at 2-2.
WHAT’S NEXT
Endicott (5-2) travels to Salem State University on Tuesday, December 12 at 7 PM. BSU (4-6) hosts Becker this coming Tuesday at 7 PM.
Salem State Women’s Basketball Beats Endicott 68-55
BEVERLY — The Endicott women’s basketball team was defeated by Salem State, 68-55, on Saturday
afternoon in MacDonald Gymnasium.
The Vikings grabbed the lead early and never looked back, as they led through the entirety of the contest, with the exception of one tie in the first quarter.
Salem State held a 32-18 lead coming out of halftime, but the Gulls attempted a late rally, coming within six points during the opening minutes of the fourth quarter. Ultimately, the Vikings were able to hold on and secure the 68-55 victory.
Emily Pratt (Gardner, Mass.) led the team in points with 21, while Gabriella Coppola (Watertown, Mass.) added 16 points and a team-high four assists.
BEYOND THE BOX SCORE
Also tallying points for the Gulls on the afternoon were Kaleigh Putnam (Wallingford, Conn.), Mikaela Rogers (Haverhill, Mass.), Cassandra Stapelfeld (Brookline, N.H.), Tessa Lafrance (Salisbury, Mass.), Emma Tierney (Wolfeboro, N.H.) and Sam Charette (Wenham, Mass.).
Charette led the team in rebounds (5), blocks (3) and assists (4).
Pratt, Coppola, and Lipscomb each had two steals throughout the contest.
Coppola is now ranked third on the all-time career assists list at Endicott.
FOR THE FOES
Kia Fernandes (Wareham, Mass.) led the team in points (19) and rebounds (9).
Brianna Rodriguez (Salem, Mass.) contributed 14 points and a team-high five assists during the game.
Saran Kaba (Dorchester, Mass.) recorded four blocks.
The Vikings held the 42-34 rebound advantage.
WHAT’S NEXT
Endicott (4-3, 2-1 CCC) hosts MIT at 7:00 p.m on Thursday, Dec. 14 for a nonconference matchup.
Salem State (3-6, 1-3 MASCAC) hosts Wheaton (Mass.) on Friday, Dec. 29 for a 3 p.m. contest during the Salem State Holiday Classic.
Endicott Men’s Ice Hockey Wins Big at Johnson & Wales, 8-0
PAWTUCKET, R.I. — The No. 5/6 Endicott men’s ice hockey team defeated Johnson & Wales University (JWU), 8-0, in conference action on Saturday night at Lynch Arena.
Tied 0-0 after the first period of play, the Gulls exploded for six goals in the second period and never looked back.
Daniel Kucerovy (Bethel Park, Pa.) and Josh Bowes (Edmonton, Alberta, Canada) led Endicott with a pair of goals each, while Bump Lisk (Lawrenceville, N.J.), Anthony Petrella (Hilton, N.Y.), John Carricato (Ridge, N.Y.), and Logan Day (Seminole, Fla.) lit the lamp as well in the win.
Meanwhile, Mark Specia (Ringwood, N.J.) made 18 saves in goal for the Gulls to improve to 6-1-0 on the season. It also marks his third career shutout in 10 games played.
BEYOND THE BOX SCORE
Endicott is 7-0-0 in the all-time series against JWU.
The Gulls have outscored the Wildcats 32-11 in the all-time series (two shutouts).
WHAT’S NEXT
No. 5/6 Endicott (11-1-0, 10-0-0 CCC) hosts Salem State University on Tuesday, December 12 at 7 PM. JWU (4-10-0, 3-7-0 CCC) hosts Stonewall College on Saturday, January 6 at 7:05 PM
