Men's Basketball Drops Regular Season Finale at Gordon

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (February 18, 2023) – Western New England's men's basketball team had their final regular season game on the road against the Gordon College Fighting Scots. The Golden Bears lost to the Fighting Scots for a final score 78-72.

Records:

• Western New England: 19-6, 14-4 CCC
• Gordon College: 10-15, 6-12 CCC

How It Happened: The Golden Bears missed the first shot of the game, and Gordon took it down to hit a three-point shot. Tim Restall took it in to get on the scoreboard. Gordon got two more on the line. WNE's Gavin Greene made a three and Restall with another layup for a tied-up ballgame. They continued their run with Brian Geitner making two jumpers and Greene's layup, the Golden Bears were in the lead 13-7. Gordon kept it close with a trip to the bucket of their own and a three. Ryan Michaels answered with a three for WNE. They gained a small lead with a three by Mike Resnick, but two knocked in by Gordon gave them a lead 20-19 in the last 10-minutes of the first. A few points put in by Restall made it an even game and yet another three by the Fighting Scots kept them ahead. Free-throws shot in by Restall and a layup by Gavin Greene brought WNE in the lead, a three handed it back to Gordon. They added a layup a couple of plays later, score 30-26. The ending of the half was a three-point shot battle Cody Palazzesi hitting one, Gordon answering with one, and Brian Geitner drilling in the last one for the Golden Bears to be in the lead 36-35 at the end of the first.

The second half continued to be a close battle in the beginning. Restall drove to the hoop for two, Gordon did the same. Palazzesi made a basket, Gordon nailed a three, scored squared up, 40-40. Gordon went on another run to have a lead of eight, still hitting threes. Restall broke up the run on the foul, making four in a row, closing the gap to 48-44. They let the Fighting Scots drive it in twice and hit a three to get in the lead by 11. Michaels took a jumper for the Golden Bears, another three for Gordon and a layup, score 60-46. Under 10-minutes in the game, a three gave the Fighting Scots a 15-point lead 63-48. A bucket for Michaels and a jump shot for Palazzesi before Gordon got back ahead 15. WNE started a last five-minute run, Brian Geitner shooting in a jumper, Palazzesi made a layup, and Restall had four points to break the double-digit deficit 72-65. The Fighting Scots got another layup and Restall and Greene put up layups, score 74-69. Gordon was fouled after a made basket in the last minute and they held down their lead to win the ballgame 78-72.

On the Floor:

• As a team, the Golden Bears shot 38.7 percent from the floor, 20.0 percent from the three, and 53.8 percent from the foul line while gathering 47 rebounds, 14 assists, five blocks, and three steals.
• The Fighting Scots shot 45.5 percent from the hardwood, 50.0 percent from beyond the arc, and 33.3 percent from the free throw line while tallying 45 rebounds, 20 assists, six steals, and two blocks.
• The Golden Bears were led by Tim Restall who had a big double-double with 23 points and 22 rebounds, adding three blocks. He was 8-13 from inside the paint and 7-11 from the free-throw line.
• Cody Palazzesi contributed with 14 points and seven rebounds.

Up Next: The Golden Bears will host the first round of the playoffs against the Salve Regina University Seahawks this Tuesday, February 21, for a 7 p.m. tipoff.