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NEWPORT, R.I. – The Endicott men's basketball team returned to the Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) Championship game for the first time since the 2005-06 season and upset the top seed Salve Regina 90-66 on the road behind a high-octane offensive performance and strong defensive effort by the Gulls.
Endicott's sixth conference championship in program history comes during an eight-game winning streak that has them at 20-8 overall heading into the NCAA Division III Tournament. The NCAA Division III Selection Show, which will reveal Endicott's destination for the big dance, will be held on Monday, February 27th at 12:00 pm on NCAA.com.
The Gulls outscored the Seahawks 40-32 in the first half and then 50-34 in the second half on a Salve Regina squad that averaged 66.4 points allowed per game all season long. The Gulls defense did their part by holding the Seahawks to just 35.0% (28-of-80) field goal shooting, frustrating Salve Regina with 10 team blocks including six by senior forward Erik Callo (Southington, Conn.).
Endicott saw four of their five starters score in doubles including freshman guard John Henault (Lunenburg, Mass.) who electrified the visiting Gulls fans in attendance with six three pointers in eight attempts. Henault finished the game with 24 points on 9-of-13 shooting from the floor with five rebounds, three assists, two steals and a block.
Gulls junior guard Lance Greene (Dorchester, Mass.), who dropped 20 points in the semifinals two nights earlier, matched Henault with a game-high 24 points with seven rebounds, three assists and two steals. Lachlan Magee (Melbourne, Australia) dropped 21 points on 7-of-12 from the field overall, 2-of-3 from three-point range, and 5-of-6 at the free throw line. Magee also dished out four assists, blocked a shot and forced one turnover for a steal.
Callo's six blocks were critical but his 14 rebounds and five assists were essential as Endicott worked to control the boards and create passing lanes.
For Salve Regina, Seahawks guard Ryan Birrell (Scituate, R.I.), playing in his final CCC Tournament game, totaled the first triple-double of his career with 18 points, 13 rebounds and 10 assists. Birrell also recorded three thefts and a block in the loss.
Sophomore guard Isaiah Pringle (Queens, N.Y.) scored a team-high 19 points by hitting five three-pointers, but his 16 attempts from beyond the arc were part of a 8-of-28 (28.6%) Seahawks effort from long range.
On the first possession of the first half, Birrell drained the first of his three three-point makes to put the home team on the scoreboard first. A layup by Greene followed by a jumper by freshman Andre Makris (Southbury, Conn.) gave Endicott the lead and marked the first of five lead changes over the opening eight minutes of the half.
After the Blue and Green took a 14-13 advantage at 12:34 in the first half, Endicott would go up by six points after a layup by freshman Matt Kneece (Shrewsbury, Mass.) and a three-ball by Henault. Salve Regina, however, would fight back to tie the game at 21-21 after steal by Birrell led to a layup by sophomore Scott St. Lawrence (Litchfield, N.H.).
Endicott regained the lead and went up by five before another Seahawks run, capped off by a Pringle three, switched momentum over to Salve Regina 29-28 with 5:22 remaining in the half.
The Gulls fought back and ended the first half on a 12-3 run, thanks to nine points Magee who even drew a foul with one second on the clock and hit two free throws to go into halftime up 40-32.
In the second half, Endicott quickly stretched their advantage into double figures, leading 64-52 after a three-pointer by Henault at the 10:20 mark. On the next Salve Regina possession, Pringle answered with a long three of his own to cut the Gulls lead back down to single digits.
Endicott then went on a run that would create separation between the top-seeded Seahawks as the Gulls scored 12 of the next 14 points to build a 19-point lead at 76-57 with 7:19 on the clock.
Down the home stretch, Endicott surpassed a 20-point lead and in the final minute of the game, a jumper by Magee and free throws by Callo capped the scoring for the Gulls. Endicott finished with a 24-point lead and defeated Salve Regina 90-66 to take the 2012 CCC men's basketball crown.
