WESTON, Mass. - After hitting just one three-pointer in Monday's victory at Skidmore College, Regis College tied a program record with 14 made three-pointers Friday night on its way to defeating Fisher College, 96-82, on the first day of the Autism Acceptance Classic at Higgins Court.
Russell Rau (Westminster, Mass.) hit five three-pointers as he led the Pride with 29 points, including a perfect 8-for-8 performance from the free throw line, plus he pulled down eight rebounds and dished out three assists. Gehrig Brynda (Deerfield, Mass.) hit five three-pointers of his own in 19 minutes off the bench as he scored a career-high 17 points, with Ned Fitzpatrick (Providence, R.I.) also notched a career-high scoring total of 11 points thanks in large part to three made three-pointers.
The Pride scored the first five points of the game and extended their lead into double digits at 16-6 with 14:21 remaining in the first half. The Falcons closed to within five points at 22-17 after a layup by Laddis Taylor, but Regis would put together a 17-2 scoring run over the next four minutes, capped by a Rau three-pointer, to open a 20-point advantage at 39-19.
Fisher (0-4) went on a 15-4 scoring run, with Ezekiel Edwards scoring the Falcons' first 11 points of the run, to close to within nine points at 43-34 with one minute remaining in the half. Fitzpatrick would increase the Regis lead back to 12 points with a three-pointer off one of Aamyr Sullivan's (Middletown, N.Y.) seven assists in the game.
The momentum swung back and forth in the second half, with the Falcons making one final push by rattling off eight unanswered points, capped by a layup by Tyrek Simmons, to close to within six points at 76-70 with 6:14 remaining in regulation. Sullivan found Jamir Harvey (Robbins, Ill.), who finished with a double-double of 14 points and 10 rebounds, underneath for a layup, and then Brynda hit three three-pointers in the span of one minute to put the game away for the Pride.
Five players scored in double figures for the Falcons, led by Edwards with 17 points and Taylor with 16 points. Anthony Douglas Jr. finished with 15 points and four assists, while Ke'Andre Penceal and Simmons contributed 10 points apiece as Fisher shot 44.9 percent (31-for-69) from the field and 66.7 percent (12-for-18) from the free throw line.
The Pride shot 54.1 percent (33-for-61) from the field, including 14-for-31 from behind the three-point line, and 69.6 percent (16-for-23) from the free throw line. Regis also won the rebounding battle, 41-32.
Regis College (2-0) will face Bowdoin College in the final game of the Autism Acceptance Classic Saturday, Nov. 16, starting at 3 p.m. The Polar Bears defeated Curry College Friday night, 75-58.