Feb. 1, 2004
NEWPORT, RI-The last basket Jeremy Currier scored came with 2:53 remaining in the game and propelled Endicott College to a 60-54 win over Salve Regina in a Commonwealth Coast Conference game on Saturday. The basket also put Currier at 1,001 points for his collegiate career.
The game also marked the return of head coach Michael Plansky to the place where he began his head coaching career. Plansky was 52-28 while at Salve Regina. All but four of his former players where in attendance to see his return.
Salve Regina opened the game with a 9-0 run, holding the Gulls scoreless for the first seven-plus minutes of the contest. Greg Kawula [Sr/Ridgefield, NJ] scored all four of his points in the opening run.
With the game tied at 17-17, Matt George and Currier each hit a three-pointer for the Gulls' largest lead of the game. Matt Smolensky[So./New York, NY] responded with a pull-up three-pointer in transition for the Seahawks who went into the break down just three (27-24).
Salve Regina co-captain Chris O'Rourke [Sr./Methuen, MA] scored 12 of his team-high 14 points in the second half, starting the period with a jumper in the lane. With 8:04 remaining in the game, O'Rourke completed an old-fashioned three-point play to give the Seahawks a 48-44 advantage.
Nemanja Marinkovic hit an uncontested three-pointer, after passing up an earlier opportunity, and pulled the Gulls within one (48-47). O'Rourke responded with another running jumper before Marinkovic countered with a layup. Both players committed turnovers setting the stage for Currier's milestone three pointer.
Matt Coute [So./Somerset, MA] pulled the Seahawks into a tie at 52-52, but Josh Oxton had a jumper and a pair of free throws in the final 40 seconds to give endicott a two-possession cushion.
Currier's 14 points led Endicott (12-4, 6-2 CCC) who also had 12 points from Oxton and 11 from Marinkovic. Coute led Salve Regina (4-13, 4-6 CCC) with 12 points.
Endicott expects to be ranked regionally for the first time in the program's history when the Northeast Regional rankings come out Tuesday. Endicott gets back to action at home Tuesday night at 8pm versus the Nor'easters of University of New England.
Story written by Salve Regina Sports Information department.