HENNIKER, N.H. – The New England College men's basketball team won 88-68 against visiting Curry College on Monday afternoon at the Bridges Gymnasium in Henniker, New Hampshire in non-conference action. It was the Pilgrims' first game back from the holiday break as well as the final NEC athletics event of the 2024 calendar year.
THE BASICS
Score: Curry 68, New England College 88
Records: Pilgrims 2-8, 0-0 GNAC | Colonels 1-9, 0-3 CNE
TURNING POINTS
- After spotting the visitors a 14-2 lead to open the game, the Pilgrims hunkered down and began to fight back, beginning with an 8-0 run capped off by a jumper from NEC sophomore center Aiden MacLeod (Wilmington, Mass.) with 14:14 to go in the first half. The 'Grims would finally take their first lead of the game with 6:24 remaining in the opening period when NEC senior guard Alex Williams (Miramar, Fla.) buried a three-pointer to put the hosts ahead 28-26, and they would never look back, going into halftime with a 41-32 lead.
- The second half saw the Pilgrims continue to build on their advantage, as they shot 50 percent from the floor behind NEC graduate guard Nick Gomeau (Enfield, Conn.) 14 points as the veteran made eight-of-ten of his free throw shots. The Colonels, having shot 42.9 percent from behind the arc in the first half (six-of-fourteen), were held to 0 percent after the break (zero-for-thirteen).
INSIDE THE NUMBERS
- Gomeau continued his strong play of late, leading all scorers with 24 points, four rebounds and three steals. In three of his last four games, Gomeau has surpassed the twenty-point scoring mark, the best stretch of his collegiate career.
- NEC freshman guard Theisen Lee (Cincinnati, Ohio) finished with 13 points, five rebounds, four steals while dishing out a career-high five assists.
- Curry freshman guard Jeremiah Predin (Canton, Mass.) led the Colonels with 20 points before fouling out.
- Williams filled the stat line with nine points with six rebounds, four steals and three assists. NEC sophomore guards Mike Strazzeri (Chichester, N.H.) and sophomore guard Jasen Stovall (Tampa, Fla.) each added ten points.
- Free throw shooting was decisive for the Pilgrims, as their aggressive approach and solid shooting saw them go 19-of-24 (79.2 percent) from the line, compared to 10-of-16 (62.5 percent) for the Colonels.
- It was the Pilgrims' largest margin of victory since an 83-60 win over Thomas College on February 7, 2023. After opening this season with seven straight losses, the 'Grims have now won two of their last three games.
UP NEXT
- Up next for NEC, the team opens their Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) schedule on Saturday when they travel to Anna Maria College for a 12:00 p.m. game.
- Curry faces Nichols at home on Saturday, with tip-off scheduled for 2:00 p.m.
