NEWPORT, R.I. -- Salve Regina University men's basketball seniors Jack McMullen (East Greenwich, R.I.) and Sean Seymour (Albany, N.Y.) were joined in pre-game ceremonies by support members -- faculty mentor Dr. Arlene Nicholas, manager Ashton McLean (Franklin, Mass.), cheerleaders Kelly EnWright (Chelmsford, Mass.) and Jiana Saunders (Newport, R.I.) -- but the visiting Beavers of Babson College spoiled the party with a 98-64 victory in the final regular season game in New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) action on Saturday afternoon at the Rodgers Recreation Center.

The Beavers (19-6, 13-3 NEWMAC) lock up the league's No. 2 Seed and advance to the semifinal round next Thursday. As the No. 3 Seed, Salve Regina (18-7, 11-5 NEWMAC) secures its first-ever NEWMAC postseason bid and will host No. 6 Seed Clark University (12-13, 7-9 NEWMAC) on Tuesday night barring weather postponements.

Freshman Thomas Ferdinando (Andover, Mass.) topped all players with 23 points on 9-of-18 from the floor including four from long range. He had 18 of the team's 51 first-half points. Sophomore Timmy Mulvey (Reading, Mass.) sank five of seven from behind the arc and finished with 19 points (6-of-8 overall and a pair of free throws).

The Seahawks were led by Seymour and Pat Spenard (Rochester, Mass.) both scoring 18 points. Zavier Francoeur (Quincy, Mass.) added 12 points on three field goals, incluidng a trey, plus five from the charity stripe.

INSIDE THE MATCHUP
Final: Babson 98, Salve Regina 64
Records: Salve Regina (18-7, 11-5 NEWMAC), Babson (19-6, 13-3 NEWMAC)
History: Today was the 20th all-time meeting on the hardwood between the schools in men's basketball, and sixth as fellow NEWMAC members. The very first NEWMAC meeting on January 16, 2024, was a 30-point win for the Seahawks (68-38) as the Beavers went 0-for-27 from long range. Babson holds a 16-4 lead in the series.

SUMMARY
First Half — Babson Dominates Early

• 1H | From the opening tip, Babson came out with a blistering offensive attack, pushing the pace and establishing control in the first minutes. Thomas Ferdinando's early 3-pointer gave the Beavers the first lead, and they never looked back. Babson's pressure on both ends forced turnovers and turned them into points; Logan Murphy and Timmy Mulvey created havoc in transition, converting steals into quick scores and widening the margin. A fastbreak layup by Timmy O'Toole made it 10–0 before Salve Regina could register a point. Babson continued to pour it on, mixing outside shooting with inside aggression — including a dunk by Tyler Lauder that extended the lead into double digits early. By midway through the period, the Beavers had built a commanding advantage, punctuated by multiple made triples and sustained defensive pressure that limited Salve Regina's rhythm. The Seahawks did respond with occasional buckets, particularly from Sean Seymour and Pat Spenard, but it wasn't enough to slow down Babson's assault. By halftime, Babson led 51–27, having shot efficiently from the field and demonstrated depth across its rotation. | BEAVERS 51, SEAHAWKS 27

Second Half — Salve Regina Fights Back, But Babson Keeps Control

• 2H | The second half mirrored much of the first, though Salve Regina came out with more energy and tried to chip into the deficit. The Seahawks showed flashes — including scores by Seymour and Spenard — and temporarily outscored Babson in key stretches as they searched for a run to shift momentum. Despite the Seahawks' push, Babson's offense remained steady and multifaceted. The Beavers continued to connect from deep and utilized ball movement to create high-quality shots. Freshmen and bench contributors sustained the scoring while key starters maintained their pace without letting the game tighten uncomfortably. Although Salve Regina outscored Babson by 10 in the second half, the margin was never seriously threatened because of the substantial lead built in the first. By the final buzzer, Babson closed out a 98–64 victory, having controlled the game from the outset and kept consistent pressure through all 40 minutes. | BEAVERS 47, SEAHAWKS 37

NOTEWORTHY

• Pat Spenard and Sean Seymour both paced the Seahawks with 18 points apiece.
• Babson shot over 60 percent from the floor in both halves and finished making 37-of-61 (60.7%).
• Salve Regoma had a 26-to-25 edge on the boards with William Mensah leading all players with eight rebounds.
• William Mensah also had three blocked shots.

ON THE HORIZON
Salve Regina will host Clark University on Tuesday night in NEWMAC quarterfinal action at the Rodgers Recreation Center on FloCollege.