BEVERLY, Mass. – The Endicott men's basketball team never trailed in a 84-69 non-conference victory over visiting Bridgewater State University on Saturday afternoon at MacDonald Gymnasium.
The host Gulls improve to 6-2 on the season, while the Bears fall to 1-8. Endicott is now 3-2 in the all-time series.
Nick Thibeault (Gorham, Maine) and Matt McDevitt (Cumberland, Maine) each posted double-doubles to pace Endicott to the win. Thibeault finished with a team-high 16 points (6-9 FG, 4-8 FT) and ten rebounds, while McDevitt posted 13 points (5-11 FG, 3-7 3PT) and pulled down ten boards.
Joe Shehadi (Dorset, Vt.), Keith Brown (Pelham, N.H.) and Kyle Henderson (Southborough, Mass.) also scored in double figures for the the Gulls. Shehadi was a rebound shy of a double-double as he recorded 14 points and nine rebounds in addition to a game-high six assists. Brown collected 14 points and eight boards, while Henderson tallied ten points.
Bridgewater State featured three student-athletes in double-figures, which included a game-high 19 points from Ryan Carney (Easton, Mass.). Rayshon Ward (Fayetteville, N.C.) added 15 points and five rebounds, while Nick Crocker (East Falmouth, Mass.) contributed 13 points, four rebounds, and a game-high three blocked shots.
The Gulls led 44-33 at the break and held a 16-point advantage (60-44) with 14:49 remaining in the second half. The Bears chipped away at the deficit and pulled to within six, 70-64, following an Admar Jaramillo (Brockton, Mass.) jumper with 7:42 left to play. Jaramillo's bucket capped off a 15-6 BSU run highlighighted by five points from Crocker including a three-pointer. Bridgewater had five chances to get to within three or four points, but could not convert. Endicott answered with six straight points to take control of the game.
Endicott capitalized on second-chance points by posting a 16-4 differential in the category. Neither team shot the ball very well. The Gulls connected on 39% (27-69) of their field goal attempts, while the Bears shot just 37% (26-71) from the floor. Endicott went 8-for-32 (25%) from behind the arc and 22-for-29 (76%) at the free throw line. Bridgewater converted 6 of 27 (22%) three-point field goals and finished 11-for-15 (73%) at the charity stripe.
In upcoming action, the Gulls host Salem State University on Tuesday night at seven, while the Bears entertain No. 9 MIT on Thursday evening also at seven.