Endicott Thwarted in Overtime by Salve Regina, 80-74

NEWPORT, R.I. – Tuesday's Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) men's basketball matchup between Endicott and Salve Regina was decided in the final minute of overtime as the Seahawks benefited from a three-pointer with 18 seconds left to help put away the Gulls 80-74. Endicott tied the game on a free throw by junior forward Andre Makris (Southbury, Conn.) near the end of regulation to force overtime, but Salve Regina's Patrick Dinneen (Medfield, Mass.) three-pointer highlighted a 26-point night for the senior.

Endicott (14-6, 8-5 CCC) has now lost three of their last four conference games and will look to get back on track on Saturday at home against Roger Williams. Tip-off is at 1:00 pm in MacDonald Gymnasium against the Hawks who Endicott holds a 21-6 all-time series lead over.

The Gulls got a standout effort off the bench from junior forward Tell White (New Castle, N.H.) who scored a career-high with 15 points on 6-of-9 shooting from the floor and 3-of-5 at the free throw line. White also hauled in five boards, a team-high. Also off the bench, freshman guard Kamahl Walker (Worcester, Mass.) matched White with 15 points as he connected on 4-of-8 three-point attempts while recording a season-high five steals. 

Graduate student guard Lachlan Magee (Melbourne, Australia) led all starters for Endicott with 13 points with 5-of-8 field goals, two steals, and an assist.

Dinneen and fellow senior Jeff Bielefeld (Littleton, Mass.) took over the game for the Seahawks by scoring 48 of Salve Regina's 80 points. Dinneen hit 8-of-16 attempts, including two threes, and another 8-of-12 free throw shots while grabbing eight rebounds and forcing three Endicott turnovers. Bielefeld added 22 points on 8-of-12 shooting and 6-of-7 at the charity stripe. He collected 12 rebounds, including four offensive boards.

In the overtime period, with Salve Regina ahead 70-68, Gulls freshman guard Max Motroni (West Warwick, R.I.) tied the game with a layup for his only points of the game. Seahawks freshman Nicholas Bates (Danvers, Mass.) hit a jumper in the lane to put Salve Regina back on top. After a missed three-pointer by Motroni, the freshman got back on defense to force a turnover and get the ball back and on the ensuing possession Magee attacked the hoop but dished to White for another game-tying layup.  After a Salve Regina timeout, Bielefeld drew a foul and hit 1-of-2 free throws. A miss down the other end by Endicott gave the ball back to the Seahawks which hset up Dinneen's clutch three-pointer.  Dinneen would add two free throws in the seal the win for the home team.

Endicott shot 38.6% from the floor, 31.6% from three-point range, and 53.8% at the free throw line. The Gulls were outrebounded 47-33, but stayed in the game with 40 points off the bench, and 27 points off turnovers.