LEICESTER, Mass. – Junior guard Mike Russell (East Hampton, N.Y.) shot four-of-eight from downtown for 12 points while dishing out five assists to help host Becker College to a 58-54 come-from-behind victory over visiting Regis College in NECC men's basketball action on Saturday afternoon at the Leicester Gym.
The Hawks of Becker are now 7-6 and 4-1 in the conference standings. The Pride of Regis see their record drop to 2-12 and 2-3 against NECC opponents.
Becker trailed for almost the entire game, needing to rally from seven points down late in the second half. Becker's sophomore forward Yahmad Rountree (Waterbury, Conn.) scored ten points and grabbed six rebounds, while sophomore guard Donovin Ford-Hayes (Windsor Locks, Conn.) added nine points. Freshman forward Rashaun Liggon (Elizabeth, N.J.) came off the bench to tally six points, seven rebounds and three blocks.
Sophomore guard Osanto Marc (Kissimmee, Fla.) led Regis to the near victory, with a game-high 14 points, shooting five-of-ten from the floor. Sophomore forward Evin Matted (Hartford, Conn.) contributed 13 points, six rebounds and four assists.
Regis came to play early on, jumping out to an 11-3 lead behind stout defense and the hot hand of junior guard Ryan Chambers (Abington, Mass.). Becker responded by scoring 18 of the game's next 25 points, taking their first lead off a three-pointer by Russell with 9:56 remaining in the opening period.
The Pride kept the pressure on throughout the first half, going up by eight on another three by Chambers with 3:39 left and with the score 32-24. The visitors went into halftime leading 35-29, shooting 52 percent from the floor and five-of-ten from behind the arc.
In the second half, Regis' defense forced Becker into turnovers as the Pride controlled the tempo of the game. With less than seven minutes left and the Hawks looking to rally, the Pride's freshman guard Carlos Bermudez-Glean (Boston, Mass.) stole the ball in the backcourt and went coast-to-coast to put his team up seven, all part of a 6-1 run for the visitors. It was one of four picks on the night for Bermudez-Glean.
Just when it seemed to be coming apart for the Hawks, Russell and sophomore guard Lee Brockett (Waterbury, Conn.) hit back-to-back threes for the home team to tie the game at 52-52 with 2:58 to go. Becker finally went ahead on a layup from Roundtree, all part of a 13 point rally for the Hawks.
Regis' Marc cut the lead to two on a layup with 54 seconds left, but Becker junior guard Tyler Roberson (Irvington, N.J.) pulled down a huge offensive rebound with ten seconds remaining, calmly hitting both free throws after the foul to ice it for the Hawks. Becker held their opponents to 29.2 percent shooting after the break.
The Pride returns to action on Tuesday night when they host the Eagles of Daniel Webster College in a 7:30 p.m. NECC contest.
Release courtesy of Becker College Sports Information