NORTON, Mass. - Despite holding an early seven-point lead, Regis College was ultimately defeated, 62-57, by Wheaton College in non-conference men's basketball action Friday afternoon at Emerson Gymnasium.
Russell Rau (Fitchburg, Mass.) paved the way for Regis offensively, notching another career high with 26 points on 12-for-20 shooting, including two three-pointers, and eight total rebounds. Devante Thompson (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.) was another major contributor with eight points and seven rebounds while Tate Pike (Bellingham, Mass.) scored nine points off the bench on 4-for-6 shooting from the field.
Regis burst out to a quick lead with Rau knocking down a three-pointer and a jumper in the first 30 seconds of play. A second Rau three and a Thompson layup gave the Pride a 14-7 lead with just over three minutes elapsed from the clock.
The Lyons battled back with a Ty Murphy three-pointer starting a 10-point run for the home team, capped off by a layup from Alex Carlisle to give Wheaton a 21-18 advantage over Regis. However, five consecutive points by Pike gave the Pride a two-point lead heading into halftime.
The second half went back and forth with neither team able to take more than a six-point lead over the other. With the score tied at 34-34, baskets by Rau and Justin Evelyn (Uniondale, N.Y.), and a pair of free throws by Thompson gave the Pride a six-point advantage over Wheaton.
The Lyons fought back again, retaking a one-point lead with just over three minutes remaining off a made free throw by Carlisle followed by a layup by Marckenley Lima to give Wheaton a 58-55 lead. Evelyn hit two free throws to put the Pride within one but another layup by Carlisle and a made free throw by Lima put the game out of reach and sealed the win for Wheaton.
The Lyons were led by Carlisle with 24 points on 8-for-13 shooting while Evan Cook scored 11 points, going 3-for-5 from three-point range. Khaled Thaher came off the bench, scoring seven points while grabbing 10 rebounds.
Regis College (1-1) will compete against Hunter College in the Wheaton Tip-Off Tournament Third Place Game on Saturday, Nov. 12, scheduled to begin at 3 p.m. Hunter lost to Worcester State in the second game of Friday's action, 111-94.