CHAMPIONSHIP HISTORY | INTERACTIVE BRACKET | PRINTABLE BRACKET

DUDLEY, Mass. (February 26, 2022) – Graduate student Matt Morrow racked up 22 points and 13 rebounds to lift the Nichols College men's basketball team to a fifth-straight Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) Championship with a 60-55 win over Salve Regina University Saturday night at the Nichols Athletic Center.

The all-time games played and rebounding leader in program history, Morrow knocked down 8-fo-12 shots from the field in 39 minutes of action for the Bison (25-3), who advanced to the NCAA Tournament for the fifth-consecutive season. Junior and CCC Player of the Year Jakigh Dottin added 12 points to go with four rebounds and three steals while freshman and CCC Rookie of the Year Tahmeen Dupree added eight points, eight rebounds, and four rebounds.

The Bison shot 42 percent on the night – including 46 percent in the second half – and outrebounded the Seahawks 42-33. Nichols was also clutch from the charity stripe, knocking down 13 of its 17 attempts (77 percent).

The Bison raced out to a quick 9-0 lead – sparked by a triple from junior Jaekwon Spencer – before the Seahawks closed the half on a 25-18 run to trail by just two at the break. Salve Regina senior Mikey Spencer led all student-athletes with 12 points as he knocked down three of his five attempts from deep, including a buzzer beater. Morrow led NC with seven points.

The Seahawks tied the game at 33 on a triple from graduate student Kevin Kelly four minutes into the second half and took their first lead of the night at 36-34 less than a minute later when Spencer rattled home his fourth triple of the evening. Later, with the visitors leading by one, Dottin canned a jumper with 8:30 on the clock to put the Bison ahead for good.

The Bison lead swelled to six (56-50) following a three-pointer form graduate student Matthew Alectus with 2:31 remaining in the second half. Kelly brought Salve Regina to within three at 58-55 with 1:30 to go, and the Seahawks had possession with an opportunity to tie the game with less than one minute remaining, but threw the ball into the hands of Dupree. Morrow was soon fouled and sank both free throws to seal the win.

Spencer – the CCC Defensive Player of the Year – held Spencer to 5-of-13 shooting while notching seven points and four rebounds of his own. Graduate student Cameron Collins paced the Seahawks (21-7) with 15 points and 10 rebounds.

Nichols – which is now tied for second in CCC Men's Basketball Championships with former member Anna Maria with five – will find out where it is heading for their NCAA First Round matchup on Monday.