Four Starters Grab Double Figure to Move Men's Basketball into CCC Semifinals

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (February 21, 2023) – The #2 seed Western New England's men's basketball team hosted the #7 seed Salve Regina Seahawks in the first round of the CCC playoffs, where they knocked off the Seahawks with a final score of 76-69.

Records:

• Western New England: 20-6, 15-4 CCC
• Salve Regina University: 9-17, 7-12 CCC

How It Happened: Shots from beyond the arc began the game for both teams. Brian Geitner hit the first one for the Golden Bears, and then Salve Regina knocked in two in a row to take the lead. Tim Restall had a couple of layups for WNE before the Seahawks gained a six-point lead after a trip to the bucket and another three, 13-7. The Golden Bears battled their way into a one-point deficit due to a Mike Resnick three-point shot, and it was answered with a three by Salve. Under the 10-minute mark in the first half, WNE evened up the score starting with a jumper taken by Geitner and a layup by Gavin Greene, they proceeded to take the lead on a run of nine, ending with a drive to the hoop by Restall and a foul shot plus a layup for Jake Harrison, 25-20. The Seahawks broke the run with a jumper, Geitner followed on a jumper of his own and a three a play later. The Golden Bears had gathered an eight-point lead, five-minutes remaining in the first, 30-22. They held that for almost the rest of the half, got it to nine with Harrison on the line, but Salve finished out the half on a drive for the score to be 37-30, WNE.

Greene got the Golden Bears lead to 10 points with two drives to the rim. A layup and a three for the Seahawks closed it to five and Greene drove it in again with an added Harrison basket. Salve only putting in foul shots now fell back down 10 with the second Resnick three. The teams exchanged some threes, Resnick making another, and the Seahawks knocked in three more to force a three-point game 55-52, Golden Bears still on top. Harrison took it all the way in for two while Salve came back for back-to-back layups, down only one, less than 10-minutes in the ballgame. Harrison hit one from deep to get a little separation, Seahawks made a layup, still within two. Greene and Harrison combined for five to get WNE in the lead 65-58, seven minutes on the clock. After the Seahawks put up one more layup, free-throws were the theme of the rest of the game for both teams. Resnick had the only layup made in the last five minutes, Golden Bears only up four 68-64, and then both teams returned to the free-throw line. WNE kept their lead, making their foul shots when it mattered, the Seahawks knocked in a final second three, but the Golden Bears had enough points on the scoreboard to win the first night of playoffs, final score 76-69.

On the Floor:

• As a team, the Golden Bears shot 49.1 percent from the floor, 33.3 percent from the three, and 60.9 percent from the foul line while gathering 37 rebounds, 20 assists, seven steals, and three blocks.
• The Seahawks shot 44.4 percent from the hardwood, 42.9 percent from beyond the arc, and 85.7 percent from the free throw line while tallying 24 rebounds, 11 assists, six steals, and two blocks.
• The Golden Bears were led by Brian Geitner who had 20 points and six assists. He was 6-11 from inside the paint, 3-7 from the three-land, and 5-6 from the free-throw line.
• Gavin Greene ended the night with a double-double, recording 15 points and 10 rebounds.
• Jake Harrison contributed 19 points, seven rebounds, three assists, and two steals.

Up Next: The Golden Bears will host the #3 Endicott College Gulls in the second round of the CCC playoffs. The game will take place Thursday, February 23, in the AHLC at 7 p.m.