Greene’s Red Hot Shooting Propels Golden Bears Past Nichols

DUDLEY, Mass. (January 3, 2023) – Western New England's men's basketball team battled CCC opponent Nichols College Bison on the road for the first game of the year, where they defeated the Bison 86-72.

Records:

• Western New England: 8-2, 4-0 CCC
• Nichols College: 6-5, 2-2 CCC

How It Happened: Nichols hit the opening basket on a three-point shot. Gavin Greene took it in to the hoop for the Golden Bears bucket. The Bison returned the basket and Brian Geitner knocked a jumper in, and Jake Harrison plus two for WNE to have their first lead. A turnover led to another Bison basket who added four more for a 11-6 lead. The teams continued to go blow for blow until WNE took another lead with a couple of free-throws by Nate Kasper 10:51 on the clock. They let Nichols put up another three to re-take the advantage. Harrison tied it on the foul line, two layups brought in by Tim Restall, and a three knocked in by Geitner had WNE ahead 25-18. The Bison were put on the foul line and only took away one, which gave the Golden Bears the opportunity to bring their lead up by double-digits after Greene had five straight points. Mike Resnick hit a three late in the half, and Harrison closed it out with a bucket for a Golden Bear lead 37-21 at halftime.

The Bison took it to the basket on the first drive of the second half. Geitner knocked in a three on the other end, and another layup for Nichols. Geitner with another jumper, Nichols return the points on a layup and then a fastbreak bucket for a quick four. Restall broke up the scoring run with a nice move to the hoop. Nichols went down and hit a three, after a few basket exchanges, the Bison went on a. six-point run to bring them within 10, 46-36. Some foul shots for WNE broke up the run once again, but the Bison cut it to six, 49-43. The Golden Bears Greene made a layup and Restall added two on the line for the Golden Bears to lead by 10 almost halfway through the half. Another layup from Greene and a corner three from Resnick, 58-43. Greene had a game and going for the Golden Bears next 11 points, all layups and one foul shot. Nichols knocked in a three and a couple other shots, WNE still maintained their lead 71-59 under five left in the game. Another three had the Bison within eight, WNE back ahead 10 from Restall with two on the line, 75-65. Nichols cut the double-digit lead less than two minutes on the clock, Harrison's layup made it 10 again, and free-throws in the final minute made it a more comfortable lead for the Golden Bears to win 86-72.

On the Floor:

• As a team, the Golden Bears shot 50.8 percent from the floor, 23.5 percent from the three, and 84.6 percent from the foul line while gathering 35 rebounds, 20 assists, three steals and one block.
• The Bison shot 39.1 percent from the hardwood, 24.1 percent from beyond the arc, and 52.4 percent from the free throw line while tallying 31 rebounds, 17 assists, 11 steals, and one block.
• The Golden Bears were led by Gavin Greene who had 26 points, five assists, and four rebounds. He went 12-15 from inside the paint, and 2-3 from the foul line.
• Brian Geitner added 19 points for the Golden Bears, and Jake Harrison led the team in rebounds with 11 and assists with seven.

Up Next: The Golden Bears have their first home game of 2023 against the Endicott Gulls Thursday, January 5, for a 7:30 p.m. start time.