WESTON, Mass. – Five Western Connecticut State University players reached double-figures, led by junior Michael Jensen's (Gales Ferry, Conn.) 17 points, as the Colonials defeated Regis College, 70-55, on Saturday afternoon in the Championship Game of the Regis College Tip-Off Tournament in Weston, Mass. West Conn. improves to 2-0 on the season while the Pride slide to 1-1 overall. Regis was led by 14 points and four assists from Osanto Marc (Kissimmee, Fla.).
The Colonials jumped all over the Pride to start the game as WCSU quickly grabbed an 11-0 lead in the first 3:57 of play. Regis scored its first points of the contest on a pair of Jonathon Josselin (Medford, Mass.) freethrows, but the Pride could get no closer than eight points with just over four minutes remaining. Trailing 23-15, the Pride made it a four point game at 23-19 on a pair of freethrows by Ahmad Charles (Cambridge, Mass.) and a jumper by Ethan Peana (Staten Island, N.Y.) before the Colonials went on an 11-5 run to end the frame and enter the half leading 34-24.
Regis' Osanto Marc and Ethan Peana led the Pride at halftime with eight points apiece. Peana also grabbed a team-high six rebounds in the opening period. Western Connecticut was led by eight points from Gary Robinson (Torrington, Conn.), while Mark Redding (Waterbury, Conn.) had four points and six rebounds to pace the Colonials.
Coming out of the half, the Colonials doubled-up their lead in the first four-plus minutes as a three-pointer from DaQuan Brooks (Atlanta, Ga.) made it a 47-27 game, prompting a Regis timeout. The Pride responded to the break in action as Regis went on a 17-4 run, capped off by a Peana jumper, leaving the Pride trailing 51-44 with just over 10 minutes remaining in the game. That would be as close as Regis would get however, as the Colonials went on their second 11-0 run of the contest to make it a 62-44 game with only 6:26 showing on the clock. The WCSU lead never dipped below 13 through the rest of the half as the Colonials grabbed a 70-55 victory over the host Pride.
Both teams committed 17 turnovers in the contest but the Pride led the points off turnovers category, 19-10. Regis also won the battle on the glass, edging the Colonials 34-33 in rebounds.
Regis was led by Marc's 14 points and four assists while Peana joined him in double-figures with 12 points and six rebounds. Ryan Chambers (Abington, Mass.), Jonathon Josselin and Ahmad Charles each scored nine points apiece while Charles also added a game-high nine rebounds.
West Conn. was led by 17 points from Michael Jensen while Brooks also added 12 points and a game-high six assists in the win. James Barnes (Middletown, Connecticut) and Gary Robinson each added 11 points, while Mark Redding was the final Colonial in double-figures with 10 points and a team-high eight rebounds.
DaQuan Brooks was named the Tip-Off Tournament Most Valuable Player after averaging 19.5 points and five assists per game in the two contests. Gary Robinson joined him on the All-Tournament Team after posting averages of 14 points and 9.5 rebounds. Regis placed a pair of players on the All-Tournament Team in Ryan Chambers, who averaged 17 points per game, and Ahmad Charles, who averaged 8.5 points and 6.5 rebounds during tournament play. Maine Maritime's Shawn Dostie (Bowdoinham, Maine) and Medgar Evers' Jovan Deare (Brooklyn, N.Y.) rounded out the All-Tournament selections.
Regis returns to action on Tuesday night when the Pride travel to Medford, Mass. to take on Tufts University in a 7:00 p.m. tip-off. West Conn. looks to make it three-straight victories to start the season when the Colonials take on Albertus Magnus on Tuesday night as well at 7:00 p.m.