Box Score
SPRINGFIELD, Mass. - The Western New England College men's basketball ran its winning streak to three games with an entertaining 94-89 victory over visiting Regis Tuesday evening (Feb. 9) at the Alumni Healthful Living Center.
The Golden Bears raised their record to 12-9 overall and 7-3 in The Commonwealth Coast Conference (TCCC).
Senior forward
Brendan Murphy (West Springfield, MA) led the Golden Bears with 21 points (19 in the opening half) while sophomore guard
Andre Shaw (Jamaica, NY) added 19 points and four assists coming off the bench.
Also scoring in double figures were senior guard
Rick Johnson (Springfield, MA) who netted 16 points with six rebounds and five assists. Junior forward
Brad Thomka (Springfield, MA) contributed 14 points (12 in the second stanza) and six rebounds.
WNEC led 53-47 at halftime before the Pride took a 63-61 lead following a jumper by senior forward
Jesse Vega (Pawtucket, RI) at the 12:05 mark.
There were several lead changes and ties over the next seven minutes before Regis took its final lead at 79-78 after junior guard
Darrin Kelley (South Dennis, MA) with 4:34 remaining.
Western New England College then went on a 12-2 run to go ahead by nine (90-81) when junior guard
Andre Duncan (Bronx, NY) made a free throw with 52.7 seconds left.
Vega had a double-double with 24 points and 10 rebounds (both game highs) as all five Pride players hit for double figures.
Junior forward
Phil Alibrandi (York, ME) tossed in 20 points while junior guard
Derrick Neal (Boston, MA) had 17 points. Both players each grabbed eight rebounds.
Kelly, who had eight assists and three steals, finished with 13 points as did senior guard
James Cooper (Philadelphia, PA).
Western New England College shot 56.5% from the field and 76.2% from the charity stripe.
Regis (8-14, 4-6 TCCC) connected on 46.1% of its field-goal attempts, but made only 54.5% of its foul shots. The Pride held a 44-30 advantage off the boards thanks to 18 offensive rebounds.