NEWPORT, R.I. - Salve Regina University men's basketball junior
Jack McMullen drove the baseline to score the game-winning bucket in a 55-53 final against the United States Coast Guard Academy in NEWMAC action at the Rodgers Recreation Center in Newport, Rhode Island, on Saturday afternoon. McMullen finished with 13 points for the Seahawks (6-9, 3-3 NEWMAC) who got a game-high 19 points from
Brad Fowler.
Salve Regina wins the critical matchup with Coast Guard (6-8, 2-3 NEWMAC) and stays ahead of the Bears in the NEWMAC standings.
INSIDE THE MATCHUP
Final: Salve Regina 55, Coast Guard 53
Records:Â Salve Regina (6-9, 3-3 NEWMAC), Coast Guard (6-8, 2-3 NEWMAC)
History: These programs meet for the 30th time in men's basketball and third time as fellow NEWMAC members. As charter members of the Commonwealth Coast Conference (now Conference of New England), Salve Regina and Coast Guard met 14 times in the 1980s when the Bears enjoyed an 11-3 mark in the series. After just two meetings in the 1990s (1990, 1991), the series resumed in 2011. Since 1990, Salve Regina leads the series, 9-6; Coast Guard has the overall edge, 17-12. Last year, the teams split their NEWMAC contests, each winning on the other's home court.
SUMMARY
- 1H | Trailing 3-2, Brad Fowler scored Salve Regina's next eight points.  Jojo Powers made it a 12-7 game before Elijah Parent drained a three for the visitors. The game was tied following Jordan Frazer's driving fast break layup but Brady Spencer answered with a trey for Salve. Cameron Brown's driving layup started a 9-0 run for the Bears. Jack McMullen's layup at 1:05 accounted for the only Seahawk points in the last eight minutes and Salve Regina trailed by six at the break. Salve Regina, which shot just over 24 percent for the period, had the lead for over 12 minutes in the first half. | Bears 23, Seahawks 17
- 2H | Coast Guard continued its attack inside and had a 10-point lead after baskets from Colin Huang and Ben Yagey. Jojo Powers grabbed a defensive rebound and fed Declan Walsmley for a fast break layup. Brown's hook shot put the Bears up 29-19 with just over 16 minutes remaining. Timeout Salve Regina. Less than 10 minutes later, Brad Fowler's old-fashioned three-point play had the Seahawks ahead by one (38-37) and the graduate transfer added another field goal for a 40-37 advantage. Declan Rooney sank a trey to forge another deadlock. Then, trailing 53-50 with under 40 seconds to go, Rooney stole a ball near midcourt and assisted Luke Farrell on a game-tying three-point play. Salve Regina moved the ball to midcourt and called timeout to setup its final possession. Every Seahawk touched the ball in the final 21 seconds capped by McMullen's winning layup. | Seahawks 38, Bears 30
NOTEWORTHY
- Brad Fowler led all players with 19 points on 8-of-14 from the floor while making all three free throws.
- Jack McMullen and Jojo Powers both finished with 13 points apiece.
- Fowler and McMullen both had 11 points in the second half.
- Salve Regina dominated on the boards (46-31) with three -- Brad Fowler, Jojo Powers, Sean Golden -- grabbing six rebounds each and then another three -- Declan Walmsley, James Jolly, Pat Spenard -- hauling in five apiece.
- All five Seahawks on the floor in the final 21 seconds handled the ball with McMullen finishing his baseline drive with 1.7 seconds left.
SEAHAWK HIGHLIGHTS ON X
ON THE HORIZON
Salve Regina plays at defending NEWMAC champion Babson College on Tuesday, January 21, with a 7 p.m. tip-off on
FloCollege.
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