BEVERLY, Mass. – The Endicott men's basketball team began its 2015-16 season with a split at the Keene St. College Tip-Off Tournament hosted by Keene St. on November 14-15th with a win over Elms (93-89), before falling 100-88 to Keene St. in the championship game. Endicott split again at the Herb Kenny Tip-Off Tournament the following weekend with a 88-72 victory against Clark University and 87-81 defeat to Lyndon St. in the championship game. The Gulls begin Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) play tonight at Nichols at 7:30 p.m with their home opener against Eastern Nazarene set for December 5. Here's a look at the full schedule and the upcoming season.
Kamahl Walker (Worcester, Mass.) set a program record with his 47-point game in a 100-88 loss to Keene State. In that game, Walker hit 23-of-23 FTs which was also set a program record. Walker has averaged 30.8 points per game over the first four games of the season, while shooting 53 percent from the floor on his way to earning two CCC Player of the Week awards and has been named to the D3Hoops.com Team of the Week (11/24/15).
RETURNING CAST: The team returns a strong junior class led by All-CCC First Team/CCC Co-Player of the Year in guard Kamahl Walker who earned D3 Hoops.com All-Northeast Region Third Team honors and was named to the ECAC Division III Third Team. Walker led the team with 515 points and averaged 17.8 points per game. Guard Max Motroni (West Warwick, R.I.) was named to the All-CCC Second Team after finishing second on the team with 366 points. Forward Daquan Sampson (Germantown, Md.) paced the team in rebounds (193) and recorded six double-doubles on the season.
MARK YOUR CALENDAR: Endicott will host 10 home contests throughout the season against Eastern Nazarene (Dec. 5, 3:00 p.m.), Salve Regina (Dec. 8, 5:30 p.m.), Middlebury (Jan. 2, 2:00 p.m.), Roger Williams (Jan. 7, 7:30 p.m.), University of New England (Jan. 19, 5:30 p.m.), Nichols (Jan. 27, 7:30 p.m.), Curry (Feb. 2, 5:30 p.m.), Gordon (Feb. 13, 3:00 p.m.), Wentworth (Feb. 16, 7:30 p.m.), and Western New England (Feb. 20, 1:00 p.m.).
ON THE ROAD: Endicott's other remaining away contests include Salem St. (Dec. 29, 8:00 p.m.), Elmira (Dec. 30, 5:00 p.m.), Curry (Jan. 5, 7:30 p.m.), Western New England (Jan. 9, 3:00 p.m.), Wentworth (Jan. 14, 7:30 p.m.), Gordon (Jan. 16, 3:00 p.m.), Eastern Nazarene (Jan. 23, 3:00 p.m.), Salve Regina (Jan. 30, 3:00 p.m.), Roger Williams (Feb. 6, 3:00 p.m.) and University of New England (Feb. 10, 7:30 p.m.).
SAVE THE DATE: Saturday, February 20 is the Gulls' final regular season home game (1:00 p.m. vs. Western New England) when the team will recognize seniors Chris Light (Derry, N.H.), Deven Richardson (Newwark, N.J.), and Taylor Rioux (Ivoryton, Conn.).
PRESEASON PLAUDITS: Endicott was picked to finish first in the Commonwealth Coast Conference Preseason Poll.
YEAR IN REVIEW: The Gulls finished their 2014-15 season with a 23-6 overall record and 16-2 mark in conference play as they captured the program's sixth CCC Championship with a 90-60 win over Wentworth to hoist their second trophy in the last four years. For the latest on Endicott Athletics, follow the Gulls on social media on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube.
