Nichols Sinks Buzzer-Beating Layup, Drops Men’s Basketball 83-81 in OT

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (January 28, 2023) – Western New England's men's basketball team hosted the Nichols College Bison for their second match-up of the season. The Golden Bears came out short, losing to the Bison 83-81 in overtime play.

Records:

• Western New England: 14-4, 10-2 CCC
• Wentworth Institute: 14-5, 10-2 CCC

How It Happened: Jake Harrison started off with two layups for the Golden Bears, and the game was soon tied up with a free throw, giving the bison a lead. Gavin Greene had a three pointer and Harrison's dunk gave WNE the advantage. A jumper and some free-throws brought the game back to Nichols. Five minutes into the quarter, Nichols had gained a five-point lead before Cody Palazzeli's three brought the Golden Bears down one 14-13. The Bison went on a run that had them ahead 21-15. Halfway through the first the Bison gathered a nine-point lead, Tim Restall added two from the foul line, Greene took one in at the rim to cut it to four, and then the Bison's trip to the line, layup, and dunk, now a 10-point game 4:40 left until halftime. The Golden Bears had a run of their own late in the first, a couple of foul shots, a three from Mike Resnick, and layups from Restall and Greene, and WNE was back within one, 33-32. The final points of the half for WNE came from Resnick on the foul line, while Nichols put up six more points, score at half 41-35.

Tim Restall knocked in the first layup, Nichols answered with a three, Greene went for two, Harrison added four, and Restall for two, the score had evened up four minutes into the second. Two different trips to the foul line for the Bison had them on top once again, and an extra three made it so the Golden Bears had to fight back to get back in it, 51-44. Greene and Harrison kept the Golden Bears alive making the next few baskets, tying up this ballgame for another time, 10:52 in the game. WNE earned their first lead of the half after a layup from Restall, Nichols quickly had it squared up. The game continued to go back-and-forth with lead changes, and then the Bison had a run that put them back up seven, 68-61, in the final five minutes of play. Battling it out until the end, Resnick hit a huge three for the Golden Bears to send them into overtime, tying it up 71-71.

In overtime play, Harrison was sent to the line for two, knocked in both, the Bison came down hit an open three, and Greene took it to the hole for two, plus one on the foul line, the Golden Bears had a four-point lead. They allowed the Bison to score the next few points, giving them a lead of one. Under a minute, Harrison's layup had the Golden Bears back up, another foul shot for Palazzeli made it a two-point lead for WNE with 22 seconds. The Bison tied it 14, a missed shot for WNE and a layup for the Bison to end it at the buzzer 83-81.

On the Floor:

• As a team, the Golden Bears shot 40.9 percent from the floor, 20.0 percent from the three, and 74.2 percent from the foul line while gathering 42 rebounds, 11 assists, four steals, and three blocks.
• The Bison shot 37.7 percent from the hardwood, 17.4 percent from beyond the arc, and 81.8 percent from the free throw line while tallying 46 rebounds, 10 assists, nine steals, and three blocks.
• The Golden Bears were led by Gavin Greene, who had 25 points, seven rebounds, and two steals. He went 10-13 in field goals, 1-1 from the three, and 4-5 from the foul line.
• Jake Harrison added 19 points, and Tim Restall pulled down 11 boards.

Up Next: The Golden Bears remain at home in the AHLC for their next game against the Roger Williams Hawks Wednesday, February 1, for a 7:30 start time.