HENNIKER, N.H. - The New England College Men's Basketball team beat the Fighting Scots of Gordon College on Wednesday night in a non-conference matchup.
The two teams were evenly matched in the first five minutes. Gordon College was first to score in Bridges Gym of the 2025-26 season. The 'Grims were able to tie the score at five with a three-pointer from sophomore Josh Robie (Bethlehem, N.H.) then take the lead outright after a made layup from junior Aiden MacLeod (Wilmington, Mass.). After a pair of free throws, the Scots gained the lead and went on a five-and- zero run, but junior Jasen Stovall (Tampa, Fla.) made one from outside the arc to bring the 'Grims back into it. After more up and down the court, Robie was able to take the lead for NEC with a three to make the first half 22-21.
With two minutes left in the first 'Grims lead by four but a foul for Gordon sent them to the line and making one. On the other side of the court Robie hit a three from between the Arc and the Pilgrims logo to advance the lead to 37-21. A foul by NEC underneath the hoop took the Scots back to the line and made a pair of free throws. Which would round out the end of the first with NEC on top 37-33 Robie being team leader with 14 points and two steals.
To start the second half, sophomore Ryan Cuvier (Tewksbury, Mass.) started the scoring for the team with a free throw and a layup to push the lead to five. Four minutes in junior Mike Strazzeri (Chichester, N.H.) pushed their largest lead to seven with a 3PT. The Scots fought their way back to gain the lead with 12 minutes remaining, going six and zero with a dunk from Issac Jarvis. After a 60 second timeout taken by the 'Grims sophomore Luke Montejo (Tewksbury, Mass.) answered with a layup.
With less than 10 minutes remaining, the Scots made two more from the line to take the lead 53-52. Which expanded with a lead by three with a layup. Senior Kenray Emadamerho (Manchester, N.H.) got on the board with a layup to bring the lead inside of one and Stovall then had a three pointer to take the lead at 59-57. Coming down to the last five minutes off a Gordon turnover Cuvier got his eighth point to go back up two.
Under two minutes and with the lead 70-66 after a Stovall 3 pointer reaching his 15th point of the night was answered by a Gordon three. A foul by the Grims sent Jarvis back to the line, scoring one to tie the game at 70.
With another late foul, the 'Grims sent Gordon back to the line, who made both free throws to gain the two-point lead. Twenty seconds later, the Scots fouled Strazzeri. Sending him to the line, making both free throws. With 22 seconds left Jarvis would miss a layup and get his own rebound to take the lead for the Scots, 74-72.
Thirteen seconds left, Strazzeri dished the ball from under the hoop out to Emadamerho in the left corner wide open to make the three with 05.6 left and up 75-74. Gordon from the other side of the court would inbound the ball, and Sean Quanico would miss a layup in the final second to secure the win for New England.
Strazzeri and Robie lead the team with 16 points, and Cuvier led with nine rebounds. The men's team will carry a 2-1 record into New York this weekend to play Paul Smith's College on Saturday at 1:00 PM.
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