Box Score HENNIKER, N.H.-The New England College men's basketball team overcame a double-digit deficit to claim a 78-73 victory over the Eagles of Daniel Webster College on Thursday evening in non-conference action.
With the win, NEC improves to 9-2, while Daniel Webster falls to 7-3.
NEC LEADERS
The Pilgrims were paced by sophomore
Jason Jones (Roxbury, Mass.) who recorded a double-double of 16 points and 22 rebounds. Freshman Izaiah Winston-Brooks (Roxbury, Mass.) scored a game-high 21 points and added 11 rebounds for his own double-double, while sophomore
Ricky Leonard (Windsor, Conn.) added 19 points and three assists.
DANIEL WEBSTER LEADERS
The Eagles received 14-point performances from both Marquise Caudill and Jaquan Harrison. All 10 Daniel Webster players scored at least a basket in tonight's game.
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Eagles capitalized on NEC's struggle to make a basket early in the game and used it to build an 11-point lead, 23-12, with 8:51 still to play in the first. The two teams exchanged baskets for the next few minutes, but Daniel Webster still led by 11, 27-16, with 5:47 left in the half following a dunk by Harrison.
NEC came alive at that point, holding the Eagles scoreless for the next two-and-a-half minutes while going on an 11-0 run to tie the score at 27-27, with 3:12 remaining. Daniel Webster would not relinquish the lead at that point though, and held on for a six-point halftime lead.
Daniel Webster would lead for 23 total minutes until the 14:57 mark of the second half, when Jones hit a free throw to tie the game and
Justin Eck (Centerreach, N.Y.) hit a three-pointer to put the Pilgrims up by three. The Pilgrims never gave up the lead from there and took their largest lead of the game at 71-62 with two minutes left in regulation.
QUOTE FROM COACH
"Tonight was another great step forward for our young basketball team. We played a very talented and athletic Daniel Webster team. We ballted hard all night and found a way again to close out the game down the stretch in crunch time." - Head Coach
Charlie Mason
BY THE NUMBERS
- NEC shot just 26.5 percent (9-34) in the first half, their lowest output of the season. They improved in the second half, hitting 13-of-32 (40.6 percent).
- Daniel Webster finished just 9-fo-24 from the free-throw line (37.5 percent). They held advantages in points in the paint (38-26), fast break points (14-4), and bench points (39-8).
- NEC held a 19-11 advantage in points off turnovers and a 12-8 lead in second-chance points.
- The Pilgrims' 9-2 record is the best start since the 2010-11 season, when they went recorded 10 wins before Colby-Sawyer handed them their third loss of the season.
WHAT'S NEXT
The Pilgrims continue non-conference play on Saturday when they travel to Lesley University for a 7:30 p.m. contest.
