CHICOPEE, Mass. – The Elms College men's basketball team pushed their win streak to four in a row as they hung on to defeat visiting Regis College, 78-74, in a New England Collegiate Conference contest at Picknelly Arena Saturday afternoon. The contest featured nine tied scores, nine lead changes, and no more than six points separated the squads on the scoreboard.
The Pride took an early led on five straight points from junior Sam Jean-Gilles (Melrose, Mass.), but Elms used three-pointers from sophomore Keeshaun King (Jacksonville, Fla.) and senior Jerry Buchanon (Windsor, Conn.) to grab a 10-7 lead. Tied 10-10, the Blazers used a 12-6 run to build a 22-16 advantage at the 11:09 mark. Regis responded with a 13-2 run over the next four minutes, powered by five points from senior Jeff Tagger Jr.( Brockton, Mass.), to capture a 29-24 lead. The squads traded the lead four times and tied three times over the next six minutes of play. Elms closed the half on a three-point play from senior Jamaal Gary (Bloomfield, Conn.) to take a 45-41 lead into the intermission.
Regis opened the half on an 8-4 run, bookended by four points from freshman Isaiah Wilson (Cambria Heights, N.Y.), to knot the game at 49-49 with 16:37 to play. The teams combined for just three points over the next five minutes of play. A three-pointer from junior Symon Smith (Oklahoma City, Okla.) handed the Blazers a 54-52 lead the 10:34 mark, but a jumper from Jean-Gilles put the game even at 58-58 with 8:31 on the clock.
Elms pulled ahead 64-58 behind four consecutive points from junior Trifon Bish (St. Catherine, Jamaica). After a three-pointer from Regis senior Hector Heredia (Lawrence, Mass.) put the Pride within a point, 64-63, the Blazers knocked down eight consecutive free throws to maintain a 72-68 advantage.
The Blazers had four scorers total double figures in points, led by Buchanon with 22 points, eight rebounds, and three assists. Junior Conny Ihearahu (Largo, Md.) registered his fifth double-double of the season with 13 points and a tied game-high of 10 rebounds. Bish netted a career-high 15 points with two rebounds, while Smith added 11 points with a tied game-high six assists.
Sophomore Jawaun Lewis (Jacksonville, Fla.) powered the Pride with a double-double effort of 22 points and 10 rebounds off the bench. The double-double was Lewis' first in his collegiate career. Tagger Jr tallied 20 points, seven rebounds and four assists, and Jean-Gilles recorded a double-double with 13 points and ten rebounds, along with a tied game-high of six assists.
The Pride controlled the rebounding category, 47-31, during the contest. Elms connected on 44.2% (23-of-52) from the floor, including 50% (8-of-16) from three-point range, and 82.8% (24-of-29) from the foul line. Regis shot 40.6% (28-of-69) from the field, 28.6% (6-of-21) from three-point, and 75% (12-of-16) from the free throw stripe.
The Blazers will look to remain in the win column with a conference road trip to Newbury College Tuesday night for a 6:00 p.m. tip. Regis travels to Lesley for a NECC contest Tuesday at 8:00 p.m.
Release Courtesy of Elms College Sports Information