Men's Basketball Dropped on Home Floor to Nichols on Senior Day

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (February 12, 2022)– The Western New England men's basketball team had a difficult defeat today at home for their Senior Day against the Nichols Bisons for a final score of 101-82.

Records:

• Western New England: 11-11, 9-7 CCC
• Nichols College: 20-2, 11-2 CCC

How It Happened:

After a scoreless two minutes of play, The Nichols College Bisons hit a three-point shot to start the game off. Kenny Flynn shot in the first bucket for Western New England with a floater layup, and then Alex Sikorski hit a fast break layup to give both seniors the first points of the game. The game started off with back-and-forth action, both teams returned blows with a tie score at 8 points from a Tim Restall layup at 15:46. The Golden Bears got up 16-10 from a shot hit from Brian Geitner from beyond the arc. The Bisons pushed the game back within two points until Geitner hit his third three of the first half to push their lead back up five points for a score of 21-16 at 12:33. Nichols forced it back to two again and it was met by a slam dunk thrown down by Steevens Phelimond. It was short lived because Nichols tied the game back up at 29-29 with 7:51 remaining in the half. Restall knocked in a corner three to take back the lead for WNE. The game continued with the exchange of shots between the two teams tying up the score and lead changes until the Bisons got up 44-38 less than four minutes of play. They pushed the lead up to eight points and WNE didn't score again until almost the end of the half from a layup hit by Jake Harrison at four seconds, and they went into half down for a score of 54-44.

Nichols scored another three-pointer to open the second half. Sikorski returned a mid-range jumper. After that, Nichols took over the game. They hit a layup and two shots from beyond the arc before WNE hit another basket. The Golden Bears got down by 20 points at 16:36 for a score 68-48 and tried to close the gap but couldn't shake the 20-point margin. Nichols held a 20 plus lead from 12:28 until 6:18. There were a lot of WNE fouls and a lot of missed shots. A dunk from Flynn that he was fouled on for a plus one brought Nichols lead within 15 points at 5:40 before he fouled out 40 seconds later. Geitner also fouled out the game at 2:23 with them being down 94-78. They let the game slip completely away from them in the second half and did not capitalize on shot opportunities. The Golden Bears lost with a final score 101-82.

Inside the Numbers:

• As a team, the Golden Bears shot 44.9 percent from the floor, a low of 20.0 percent from three, and perfect 100.0 percent from the foul line while gathering 34 rebounds, 15 assists, six steals, and three blocks.
• Nichols shot 54.8 percent from the hardwood, 50.0 percent from beyond the arc, and 75.0 percent from the free throw line while tallying 32 rebounds, 16 assists, 11 steals, and two blocks.
• The Golden Bears were led by the seniors. Sikorski with 18 points and two rebounds, assists, and steals. Flynn added 17 points, five rebounds, and a block.
• Phelimond led the team in rebounds, totaling in eight and added 10 points.

Up Next:

• The Golden Bears remain at the Alumni Healthful Living Center on February 14, where they will face off with Pratt Institute for a 6 p.m. tipoff.
• The Bisons will be back on their home court this Monday February 14, to host the Suffolk University Rams for a 7:30 p.m. start time.