Men's Basketball Comes Back from 13 Down to Remain Undefeated in CCC Play

NEWPORT, R.I. (January 7, 2023) – Western New England's men's basketball team were on the road for their game against the Salve Regina Seahawks. The Golden Bears hold on to being undefeated in the CCC in a second half comeback, 58-55.

Records:

• Western New England: 10-2, 6-0 CCC
• Salve Regina University: 4-9, 2-4 CCC

How It Happened: Andrew Byfield hit a three right out the gate for the Golden Bears and then Jake Harrison added a jumper for two. Salve went down and shot in a jumper on the other end, Byfield made another three for WNE to lead 8-2. The Seahawks took the lead after almost six minutes of play 10-9. Two minutes of scoreless action until the two teams exchanging three-pointers, Salve first, then Mike Resnick hitting one for WNE. They then went back-and-forth on layups, ending with a layup and a foul for Jake Harrison who tied it up on the foul line. Resnick with two for the Golden Bears to retake the lead just over 10 to play in the half. A layup tied it up for the Seahawks who went up with a three. They continued to increase their lead with a run of 14 to lead 31-21 with five minutes left on the clock. Cody Palazzeli stopped the run, making one at the rim to break the double-digit lead. The Seahawks maintained their eight-point lead until the half 35-27, Salve.

The second half opened with Salve Regina knocking in the layup. Byfield went down on the other side for two. A couple quick buckets for the Seahawks to lead 41-29. Harrison was fouled and sent to the line where he only took one away. Salve proceeded to regain a double-digit lead. A free-throw taken by Gavin Greene and a jumper by Resnick made it a 10-point game 12:57 left, 45-35. Harrison had a layup and a steal for two more to take the Golden Bears down by six. After a foul shot by the Seahawks, Harrison tallied another steal, an extra dunk, and a layup, now down one, 46-45, with 9:18 to go in the second half. Tim Restall took a WNE lead on the foul line for two. Salve retook it on the line as well. Harrison, unstoppable in the second, tied the ballgame with a layup, and Greene's fast break bucket gave the Golden Bears back the lead, 51-49. The Seahawks evened it up once again, Greene, basket for the lead. WNE worked their way into a six-point lead, 3:47, 57-51. A foul shot in a huge three for Salve made it a two-point game. Harrison put it back at three on the free-throw line, 58-55, 1:07 left in this basketball game, and later disrupted the ending play on Salve's chance to comeback. The Golden Bears close it out in another second half comeback win 58-55.

On the Floor:

• As a team, the Golden Bears shot 37.3 percent from the floor, 25.0 percent from the three, and 55.0 percent from the foul line while gathering 37 rebounds, 10 assists, seven steals, and one block.
• The Seahawks shot 41.8 percent from the hardwood, 21.1 percent from beyond the arc, and 41.7 percent from the free throw line while tallying 31 rebounds, 13 assists, six blocks, and five steals.
• The Golden Bears were led by Jake Harrison who had 23 points, adding nine rebounds, five steals, and four assists. He went 9-17 from inside the paint, and 5-10 from the foul line.
• Andrew Byfield added 11 points for the Golden Bears, and Tim Restall led the team in rebounds with 12.

Up Next: The Golden Bears remain on the road for their next CCC game against the Roger Williams Hawks Tuesday, January 10, with a 7:30 p.m. tipoff time.