NEWPORT, R.I. - Despite six lead changes and three ties in the first half, Salve Regina University men's basketball pulled away from the United States Coast Guard Academy in New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) action at the Rodgers Recreation Center in Newport, Rhode Island, on Saturday afternoon, and finished with a 25-point win (94-69). Senior captain
Sean Seymour (Albany, N.Y.) led six Seahawks (12-3, 5-1 NEWMAC) in double digits with 21 points on 10-of-18 from the floor while fellow captain and classmate
Jack McMullen (East Greenwich, R.I.) contributed 18 points with 6-of-9 shooting including four of six from long range.
Salve Regina wins the critical matchup with Coast Guard (4-11, 0-7 NEWMAC) and stays on top of the NEWMAC standings.
INSIDE THE MATCHUP
Final: Salve Regina 94, Coast Guard 69
Records: Salve Regina (12-3, 5-1 NEWMAC), Coast Guard (4-11, 0-7 NEWMAC)
History: These programs meet for the 32nd time in men's basketball and fift 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, 10-7; Coast Guard has the overall edge, 18-13. Last year, the teams split their NEWMAC contests, each winning on their home court.
SUMMARY
First Half: Seahawk Offense Sets Early Tone, Bears Stay Within Striking Distance
- 1H | Salve Regina roared out of the gates in the first half, combining confident perimeter shooting with patient ball movement to build an early advantage. The Seahawks opened the scoring with a Jack Margoupis 3-pointer, setting a theme of aggressive play making that saw them outscore Coast Guard 45-36 over the first 20 minutes. Salve's efficiency was evident: the Seahawks shot over 50 percent from the field (16-of-31) and hit five 3-pointers in the half while maintaining a perfect record from the free-throw line (8-of-8). Coast Guard countered with volume from its stars, particularly Luke Farrell and Trevor Parks, who combined for more than half of the Bears' first-half points and kept the margin within reach. Salve's Sean Seymour got to work early in the paint, while Jack McMullen helped stretch the floor — his 3-point shooting giving the Seahawks spacing and forcing Coast Guard defenders to extend. The Bears responded with aggression on the offensive glass and consistent trips to the line, but turnovers and missed perimeter looks hindered their ability to close the gap. By halftime, Salve Regina's combination of ball movement and high-percentage shooting — alongside a tenacity on defense that created transition opportunities — had built a nine-point lead. | SEAHAWKS 45, BEARS 36
Second Half: Seahawk Control and Balanced Scoring Seal the Win
- 2H | Salve Regina continued its offensive rhythm in the second half, expanding the lead behind sustained scoring from its core group. The Seahawks outpaced Coast Guard 49-33 after intermission, showcasing depth and versatility in attack to put the game out of reach. Salve maintained efficient shooting — particularly from beyond the arc — while mixing in strong drives and finishes at the rim. Jack McMullen continued to score with precision, Pat Spenard added key buckets in transition, and Margoupis hit timely shots that kept the pressure on the Bears' defense. Seamless ball movement translated into high-quality looks, and Salve finished the game shooting 53.7 percent overall with a balanced scoring ledger. Coast Guard struggled to replicate its first-half offensive output in the second, with fewer bench points and lower shooting efficiency. Though Farrell and Parks continued to score in double figures for the Bears, Salve's sustained offensive surges and defensive rotations prevented any meaningful comeback. By game's final horn, the Seahawks' balanced scoring — seven players scored at least eight points — and late-game defensive resilience had transformed a strong first half into a 25-point victory. | SEAHAWKS 49, BEARS 33
NOTEWORTHY
- Seahawks in double-figures: Sean Seymour (21), Jack McMullen (18), Pat Spenard (13), Zavier Francoeur (12), Jack Margoupis (10), and Rowan Linder (10).
- Margoupis had his double-digit effort in less than 17 minutes on the floor in the first half; Linder came off the bench to contribute half of the team's 20 points from reserves.
- William Mensah (8 points on 3-of-4 from the floor) and Dylan Hoffmann (2 points on 1-of-2) accounted for the other bench scoring.
- Seahawks had a season-high 36 field goals and their 8-of-19 from long range produced a season-best .421 shooting percentage behind the arc.
- Luke Farrell led all players with 23 points, pacing the Bears with aggression in the paint and trips to the line.
QUOTABLE SEAHAWKS
"The response from our group today was really great to see. We owned what didn't go well last game, got back to work, and we showed who we are when we play connected, share the ball and compete for 40 minutes. That's a mature group in that locker room, our staff appreciates how they handle adversity. They stayed together, stayed hungry, and came out today determined to play the right way. Our bench really stepped up and gave us tremendous minutes. We are hopeful that we can continue that growth." -- Seahawk head coach Sean Foster '97
ON THE HORIZON
Salve Regina hosts Babson College on Tuesday, January 20, with a 7 p.m. tip-off on
FloCollege at the Rodgers Recreation Center.
