NORTON, Mass. - With five players scoring in double figures, Regis College produced a record-setting performance in defeating Hunter College, 104-92, Saturday afternoon in the third place game of the 2022 Wheaton Tip-Off Tournament at Emerson Gymnasium.
The Pride set new single-game scoring and rebounding records, as the 104 points eclipsed the previous mark of 103 points set against Rivier Dec. 30, 2018. Regis pulled down 70 rebounds in the game, passing the previous program record of 68 rebounds tallied against Pine Manor College Nov. 19, 2016.
Jamir Harvey (Robbins, Ill.) led the way for the Pride, shooting 13-for-17 from the field as he finished with 28 points, 11 rebounds, four steals, and two blocked shots. Justin Evelyn (Uniondale, N.Y.) was a perfect 7-for-7 from the free throw line as he earned a career-high 21 points along with eight rebounds and four assists, while Joshua Perez (Lynn, Mass.) tied his career high with 17 points along with six rebounds and three assists.
Russell Rau (Fitchburg, Mass.) continued the hot start to his season with 16 points and a career-high 16 rebounds, and Zakaria Latifi (Holliston, Mass.) contributed 12 points and seven rebounds to the winning effort. Of the Pride's 70 rebounds, 26 of them were offensive boards, leading to 25 second chance points, and Regis also scored 35 fast break points as it quickly turned defensive rebounds into baskets on numerous occasions.
After Hunter took an early three-point lead, Regis scored six straight points on layups by Latifi, Evelyn, and Perez. The Pride increased their lead to five points at 17-12 on a layup by Harvey, but the Hawks regained the lead thanks to an 8-2 scoring run.
Down by three after a three-pointer by Hunter's Devon Matthews, the Pride rallied back again, starting with five straight points from Rau and followed by four consecutive made free throws from Perez. Rau once again scored five unanswered points to increase the Regis advantage to nine at 40-31, but Hunter would earn the final five points of the first half on a three-pointer by Cormac Reilly and a layup from Ryan Lau.
After Latifi opened the second half scoring with a three-pointer, Casey Meyers and Reilly hit consecutive three-point shots to pull the Hawks within one at 47-46. Back-to-back layups by Jeremy Montrose and Meyers allowed Hunter to retake the lead at 52-49, but the Pride responded with 12 unanswered points, including three-pointers by Perez and Rau, to pull ahead, 61-52.
Hunter (0-2) closed to within three on a three-pointer by Meyers before the Pride extended their lead back to eight points on consecutive layups by Perez. The Hawks fought back to within four points on two other occasions, but the Pride held off the rallies on their way to victory.
Luka Jakic led the Hawks with 23 points and nine rebounds, while Reilly finished with 16 points, Montrose collected 12 points, six rebounds, and four steals, and Meyers added 11 points, six rebounds, and four assists. As a team, Hunter shot 32.6 percent (31-for-95) from the field, including 10-for-51 from behind the three-point line, and 71.4 percent (20-for-28) from the free throw line.
The Pride tied their single-game record for most made field goals with 38, hitting 41.8 percent (38-for-91) of their field goal attempts as well as 60.5 percent (23-for-38) of their free throw opportunities. Regis last made 38 field goals over 10 years ago in the 2011-12 regular season finale against Southern Vermont Feb. 18, 2012.
Regis College (2-1) will have a week to prepare for its next game as the Pride travel to Providence, R.I., to face Rhode Island College next Saturday, Nov. 19, starting at 3 p.m.