NEWPORT, R.I. -- Salve Regina University men's basketball hosts Clark University at the Rodgers Recreation Center with a 5:30 p.m. tip-off and two promotional activities beforehand -- the Seahawks and Cougars give a big "Thanks!" to their whistle-blowers with commemorative towels during "Officials Appreciation Week" and, in conjunction with the NABC, head coaches Sean Foster '97 and Tyler Simms don suits with sneakers for their annual "Coaches vs. Cancer" awareness campaign.

Clark University won tonight's contest, 77-62, and improves to 12-7 overall and 8-2 in NEWMAC play. Salve Regina falls to 7-12 on the season and 4-6 in the league while also dipping to 0-11 all-time against Clark in men's basketball.

Four Seahawks scored in double-figures led by senior captain Declan Walmsley with 20 points on 8-of-11 from the floor including four 3-pointers. Walmsley also had five assists that led to James Jolly (13), Sean Seymour (11), and Pat Spenard (10) reaching double digits, the latter two coming off the bench. Bruce Saintilus led all players with 21 points for the Cougars.

INSIDE THE MATCHUP
Final: Clark 77, Salve Regina 62
Records: Salve Regina (7-12, 4-6 NEWMAC), Clark (12-7, 8-2 NEWMAC)
History: These programs meet for the 11th time in men's basketball and fourth time as fellow NEWMAC members. Salve Regina had all five starters score in double figures -- Sean Seymour (20), Pat Spenard (14), Jojo Powers (13), James Jolly (12), Declan Walmsley (10) -- but the Seahawks fell to the Cougars, 91-80, in NEWMAC action at the Hurst Courts on Sat., Dec. 7. Bruce Saintilus led all players with 24 points as Clark improved to 10-0 in the all-time series with Salve Regina. The Seahawks celebrate "Officials Appreciation Week" and "Coaches vs. Cancer" tonight.

SUMMARY

• 1H | Brad Fowler and James Jolly got the first buckets of the game before Bruce Saintilus sank a three for the Cougars. Declan Walmsley made it three baskets in the paint for Salve Regina and then Reid Neumann had a 3-pointer to tie the score at 6-6. Jojo Powers drove the lane for a layup at 15:03 for the Seahawks' largest lead, 12-6. Jordan Richard (3), Quentin Pridgen (2), Kekoa McArdle (2), Ian Calabrese (3), and Saintilus (2) led the visitors on a 12-2 run as Clark took over the lead and never trailed again. Saintilus finished the half with 13 points while Jolly topped the Seahawks with 10 points. Clark had seven 3-pointers to take a four-point lead into the break. | Cougars 41, Seahawks 37
• 2H | Bruce Saintilus scored a fast break layup off a steal and assist from Isaiah Taylor for the first double-digit lead for Clark, 48-37 at 18:04. Kekoa McArdle had a layup at 9:39, after he blocked a shot at the opposite end, to give the Cougars their largest lead of the game (19 points; 66-47). Declan Walmsley responded with back-to-back treys for the Seahawks. Walmsley's 3-pointer at 3:03 made it a 10-point deficit for Salve Regina (70-60) but Clark finished the game on a 5-2 run. | Cougars 36, Seahawks 25

NOTEWORTHY

• Salve Regina posted on social media its "I Play For" messages from players, cheerleaders, and coaching staff for its "Coaches vs. Cancer" campaign.
• Seahawk captains James Jolly and Declan Walmsley presented tonight's officials -- Mark Bissonette, Marek Drabinski, Jaymes Steere -- with "Officials Appreciation Week" towels.
• Declan Walmsley went 5-for-5 in the second half including three 3-pointers to score 13 of his team-high 20 points.
• Clark outgunned Salve Regina from long range (11 treys to five for the Seahawks).
• Salve Regina dominated close to the basket with 42 points in the paint (28 for the Cougars).

ON THE HORIZON
Salve Regina goes on the road to play at MIT on Saturday, February 1, 2025, with a 2 p.m. tip-off on FloCollege. The Seahawks defeated the Engineers, 75-67, at home in early January.