NIGHTHAWKS SOAR PAST PRIDE, 67-60

WESTON, Mass. – Regis College nearly overcame an 18-point halftime deficit, but came up just short as Newbury College defeated the Pride, 67-60, in New England Collegiate Conference men's basketball action on Tuesday night in Weston, Mass. The Pride drop to 9-15 overall and 6-9 in the NECC, while Newbury wraps up its regular season at 11-14 and 8-8 in league play. Ryan Chambers (Abington, Mass.) nailed five three-pointers en route to 15 points to lead the Pride.

Regis was able to grab an early 8-4 lead when Robert Edwards (Memphis, Tenn.) nailed a jumper off a feed from Ahmad Charles (Cambridge, Mass.) prompting a Newbury timeout. The Nighthawks' Cameron Owen (Concord, N.H.) checked in during the break and came off the bench to nail back-to-back three pointers to give Newbury its first lead of the game at 10-8. Ahmad Charles answered on the ensuing Regis possession and Kandley Val (Boston, Mass.) banked home a jumper to push it back to a three point game (13-10) with 11:26 to go in the opening period.

The Nighthawks and Pride traded baskets before Tim Young (Brockton, Mass.) connected on a deep three to tie it at 15. Following an Edwards' basket, Steve Rosemond (Everett, Mass.) buried a three of his own to take an 18-17 lead that the Nighthawks would never relinquish.

Kandley Val's jumper at the 8:32 mark made it a one point game, but Owen answered with another three and Young added a pull-up jumper to stretch the Newbury lead out to six. Eric Watson's (New Rochelle, N.Y.) triple made it a nine point game on the Nighthawks' last possession of the period, but Ryan Chambers answered with his first score of the game with only seconds remaining to make it 32-26 headed into the half.

Robert Edwards led the Pride with eight points and two blocks in the opening frame. Ethan Peana (Staten Island, N.Y.) scored six points and added three rebounds, while Ahmad Charles had five points, four rebounds, two assists and a pair of steals. Newbury was led by nine points from Cameron Owen and seven points apiece from Tim Young and Steve Rosemond. Jason Marshall (Fairburn, Ga.) snatched six rebounds to lead all players.

Coming out of the half, Newbury wasted no time as a pair of Marshall free throws extended the Newbury lead to 43-28 with 14:38 remaining. Steve Rosemond's second three-ball of the game gave the Nighthawks a 16 point lead nearly three minutes later and Newbury grabbed its largest lead of the ballgame when Tim Young nailed another pull-up jumper to make it 48-30.

Ryan Chambers answered with back-to-back threes, prompting a Newbury timeout, with the game 48-36. Jordan Faust's (Wakefield, R.I.) first three-pointer of the season cut the lead down to single digits at 50-41, but the Nighthawks responded with five quick points to take the lead back to 14. The Pride cut it back to nine on a jumper by Edwards and a three from Ahmad Charles and on the ensuing Newbury possession, Ethan Peana came up with a pair of monster blocks that sparked a Regis fast break. Peana raced up the floor and ended up with the ball, driving middle and kicking to a wide open Ryan Chambers, who promptly buried the deep three from the corner, making it a 55-49 game.

Newbury's Steve Rosemond had the answer for the late run as he blocked a Pride three-point attempt that would have made it a five point game, and followed that up with a tough running jump shot in traffic, then hit a difficult reverse layup to push the Nighthawks' lead back to 11. Regis went to its press and were able to get some late baskets after fouling, but Newbury hit four of its final six free throws to stave off the Pride and hang on for the 67-60 win.

Regis won the battle on the boards, 33-29, but committed 13 turnovers compared to just nine for Newbury. The Nighthawks picked up seven steals and converted the Pride missteps into 13 points. Regis passes were finding their mark however, as the Crimson and Gold had 20 assists on 23 field goals.

Ryan Chambers ended the game with 15 points, but struggled from the field - going 5-for-17 from beyond the arc - while picking up five rebounds and five assists. Robert Edwards joined Chambers in double-digits with 11 points while Ahmad Charles and Ethan Peana added 10 points apiece. Peana also added a team-high eight rebounds in the setback.

Newbury was led by 20 points from Steve Rosemond. Tim Young added 15 points and two assists while Eric Watson scored 13 points and grabbed six rebounds. Jason Marshall had 12 rebounds, including six offensive, to lead the Nighthawks.

Regis returns to action on Saturday afternoon as the Pride celebrates its annual Senior Day with a game against Southern Vermont College at 5:00 p.m. Newbury wraps up its regular season and waits to hear its playoff destiny following this weekend's NECC games.