Depth Scoring Helps Men’s Basketball Past Endicott for Second Time in Six Days

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (February 2, 2022) – The Western New England men's basketball team matched with the Gulls of Endicott College for the second time in six days, getting the same result they did in Beverly, a win. The Golden Bears took down Endicott 98-90 behind 46 points from their bench, including a breakout performance from Gavin Greene. 

Records:

• Western New England: 9-9 (7-5 CCC)
• Endicott College: 10-6 (7-4 CCC)

How it Happened:

A driving layup from Jake Harrison started the Golden Bears off on the right foot as WNE opened the game on a mini 7-3 run, capped off by a Brian Geitner three-point basket to give the Golden Bears an early lead against the Gulls. Tim Restall would add to that lead for Western New England on a hook shot layup to give WNE the six-point edge. Billy Arseneault began the comeback for the Gulls, as he would go on a solo 6-0 run to get Endicott right back into the game, with the score 9-9 just three minutes into the contest. Restall would break that streak by sending the basketball right through the net on a three-point attempt to give WNE their lead back. As they did all night, Endicott would fight back and gain ground on their first lead of the game. Arseneault would connect on a layup to give the Gulls a 13-12 lead, though Steevens Phelimond would finish at the rim to give WNE a lead again. 

The two teams went back and forth down the stretch. Alex Sikorski would dish in a layup and finish at the free throw line, converting the three-point play to give the Golden Bears a four-point lead. Gavin Greene would expand upon that lead with a made jump shot from the top of the key. Jalen Echevarria would connect from distance on a corner three to get Endicott right back into the contest. Another mini run from the Gulls sent them into the lead with 6:19 to play in the half. Greene and Kenny Flynn would help Western New England stay even with the Gulls in the last minutes of the contest. Greene would finish with the last eight of ten points for the Golden Bears to send the teams into the break, tied at 40. Endicott shots 53.6% from the field in the first half, while WNE shot 45% from the field, while knocking down three triples. 

As he did in the first half, Harrison would open the scoring in the second half with a layup to get the Golden Bears back on top of the lead. Endicott would open a four-point lead off two three-point shots, one from Echevarria, and the other from Cameron Ray. The lead would go back and forth between the two teams as the Golden Bears and Gulls would look to take a big advantage heading down the stretch. 

Both teams were able to shoot and knock down shots through the midway point of the half as Western New England would see the better of the play. Harrison and Greene would continue to score for the Golden Bears as WNE would open a ten-point lead with 11 minutes to play. Geitner would extend that lead to 15 off a made jump shot and a free throw to put WNE ahead 69-54. Endicott would attempt to close the gap, though the Western New England offense, led by Greene would be too much for the Gulls to make a comeback.  Flynn would ice the game with a made jump shot to give WNE a ten-point lead, a lead Endicott would be unsuccessful in coming back from. Western New England would defeat Endicott by a final score of 98-90 from the Anthony S. Caprio Alumni Healthful Living Center. 

Inside the Arc:

• Western New England connected on 66.7% of their shots in the half, shooting 20-30. The Golden Bears scored 18 points from the free throw line in the half. 
• Endicott came away shooting 45.7% in the half, while collecting 11 points from the free throw line. 
• In total, Western New England shot 54.3% from the field while knocking down just three three-point shots in the contest. Endicott came away shooting 49.2% from the field, while hitting 11 of their 19 three-point attempts. 
• Gavin Greene collected a team best 23 points on 11-14 shooting, while grabbing five rebounds on the night. Jake Harrison finished with 21 points on 7-9 shooting, while dishing the ball six times. 
• Western New England's bench came away with 46 of the 98 points on the night. Endicott's bench produced just 15 points. 
• Billy Arseneault finished the night with 35 points for EC while teammate Jalen Echevarria finished with 29 points. 
• WNE out rebounded Endicott 43-23. 

Up Next on the Schedule:

• Western New England heads to the University of New England on Saturday, February 5 for a 3:00 pm tip. 
• Endicott travels to Roger Williams University on the same date.