WESTON, Mass.—Western Connecticut opened the game with a 9-0 run, later jumping to a 15-point lead. The Colonials would take down Regis College 71-65, to improve to 11-1. The loss drops Regis College to 7-5 overall.

Derrick Neal (Boston, Mass./Brighton) would score Regis' first basket of the game. The Colonials jumped to a 14-4 lead following a made free throw by Rob Bentil (East Hartford, Conn./East Hartford).

After two Regis turnovers, Russell Payton (Stratford, Conn./Stratford) would hit two three-pointers to lift Western Connecticut to 21-9 with 10:13 remaining in the first period. The Colonials consistently attacked from the outside, shooting better than 43 percent from the field.

The Western Connecticut defense pressured Regis College once in the paint. Kandley Val (Boston, Mass./Cathedral) would cut the Colonials lead to 11 points (25-14) with less than 8:00 minutes left in the first period.

Regis shot a lowly 27 percent from the floor. Neal and Val would work the pick-and-roll to give Regis four points in the paint. A three-point basket by Regis' Mike Fernandes (Granby, Mass./Granby) cut the lead to the lowest of the game at the time. LaQuinn Shuler (White Plains, NY/Valhalla) would cut the lead lower with a lay-up to a 34-30 game.

A lead that was once 15 points, ended with Regis College cutting it drastically by halftime. The Pride held a 22-16 total rebound advantage at the intermission. The two teams would shoot close to even by intermission, with Western Connecticut holding a slight advantage.

Gary Robinson (Torrington, Conn./Hotchkiss) and Wilburt Jarrett (Hartford, Conn./Hartford Public) would work the Pride interior, lifting the Colonials to a 41-36 advantage. Robert Edwards (Idaho Falls, Idaho/Phillips Exeter) would spin to the left, back to the right scoring an 8-foot jumper to pull Regis College within one point at 41-40.

Edwards would again answer for the Pride, tying the game at 42-42 with 12:52 remaining in the game. Robert Philips would hit two free throws to give Western Connecticut a 46-42 lead. Darrin Kelly would foul while Philips in the act of shooting to give the Colonials the easy points. With each possession Western Connecticut pushed the game tempo to keep the Pride defense off balanced. A turnover under the Colonials basket gave Regis College the ball back, but an errant three-pointer missed its mark for the Pride.

Ryan Pellitier (Wolcott, Conn./Wolcott) would take the free-throw line to shoot the bonus; hitting both shots Western Connecticut regained its double-digit lead at 54-44. Back-to-back baskets by Neal closed the Regis deficit to six points. A turnover by Western Connecticut gave Regis the ball back, and a foul sent Regis' Kelly to the line at 2:15 for two free throws.

Within six points, Regis looked to push the offense scoring then calling a timeout. Less than 15 seconds remained in the game, but Regis College would continue to press the ball closing the gap at 69-65.

Wilburt would finish at the line making 1-of-2 free throws, scoring the teams final baskets to end the game 71-65.

Regis College will play its next game on the road against conference opponent Colby-Sawyer (Jan. 8). Western Connecticut hosts Plymouth State at 3:00 p.m. on January 8.