LEICESTER, Mass. – Regis College overcame a fifteen point deficit in the first half to defeat Becker College 63-56 in New England Collegiate Conference men's basketball action Thursday evening. The win lifts the Pride record to 8-5 (3-1 NECC), while the Hawks sink to 7-6 (2-2 NECC).
The Hawks shot 52 percent from the field in the first half. With 4:54 remaining in the period, Samuel Durodola (Rosedale, N.Y.) drove to the hole for a layup to give the Hawks their largest lead of the game at 29-14.
After Regis coach Nate Hager called a timeout, Chris Keaton (Beverly, Mass.) began the comeback with a three pointer, propelling the Pride on a 14-3 run to end half.
Ethan Peana (Staten Island, N.Y.) opened the second half by pulling Regis even closer with layup while being fouled. He converted the free-throw shot to make the score 32-31 in favor of Becker. Regis completed the comeback when Jordan Monts (Springfield, Mass.) nailed a three from the near corner.
Becker refused to go down easily as they regained the lead on a Scott Dulaire (Bloomfield, Conn.) fast break dunk.
The Pride responded with a 7-0 run to take a 41-35 lead with just over 12 minutes remaining.
Becker would pull within one point a couple of times, but the Pride always had an answer. Ethan Peana had what proved to be the knockout punch when he hit a three pointer with 1:49 remaining on the clock.
Jordan Monts paced Regis with a game-high 16 points. Chris Keaton and Jeff Tagger Jr. (Brockton, Mass.) chipped in with nine points apiece
Hector Heredia (Lawrence, Mass.) and Chris Leak Jr. (New Haven, Conn.) went three-for-three from the field to finish with seven points each.
Becker senior Donovin Ford-Hayes (Windsor Locks, Conn.) shot 50% from beyond the arc to finish with a team high 12 points. David Maturah (Windsor Locks, Conn.) contributed ten points, while Scott Dulaire dished out a game high seven assists. Dulaire also scored nine points and had a game high six steals.
Regis will shoot for their third win in a row when they host NECC rival Elms College on Saturday, January 17 at 1:00 p.m. The Hawks return to action on Tuesday, January 20 when they travel to Southern Vermont at College at 6:00 p.m.
Release courtesy of Becker College Sports Information