Men’s Hoop Falls in Exciting Home Opener

WESTON, Mass. – Before an enthusiastic, loud crowd willing their team to rally, Regis College nearly came from behind in the second half, but Clark University was able to hold on for a 78-76 victory Tuesday night in a non-conference men's collegiate basketball game at Higgins Court.

Marc Trinidad (Bronx, N.Y.) shot 8-of-11 from the field as he scored a career-high 21 points, plus he pulled down a team-high nine rebounds. Cam Wilkins (Taunton, Mass.) shot 6-of-9 from the field as he finished with 13 points, six rebounds, four assists, and two steals, while Dimitri Rosa (Tiverton, R.I.) also scored 13 points thanks in part to three three-pointers, plus he blocked two shots.

Clark (2-3) scored six straight points early in the first half to open a 10-4 advantage, but Regis responded with seven unanswered points, capped by a Rosa three-pointer, to pull ahead 11-10 five minutes into the contest. The Cougars briefly retook the lead on a three-pointer by Antonio Lapeyrolerie, but the Pride used a layup by Trinidad and a three-pointer from Devante Thompson (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.) to retake the lead midway through the first half.

After a layup by Elias Garcia closed the Cougar deficit to one, Regis rattled off 12 straight points over the next five-and-a-half minutes, punctuated by a three-pointer from Justin Evelyn (Uniondale, N.Y.), to take its biggest lead of the night at 30-17. Down 37-26, Clark scored the final six points of the first half to close to within five at 37-32 going into halftime.

Jalil Wilkerson (New Haven, Conn.) made the first basket of the second half, but Clark scored the next 11 points, featuring two three-pointers by Biko Gayman, to pull ahead 43-39. The Cougars extended their lead to 52-42 six minutes into the second half on a traditional three-point play by Tyler Davern, but the Pride put together an 8-2 scoring run to close their deficit back to four at 54-50.

The Cougars took their biggest lead of the night at 63-52 midway through the second half on a steal and layup by Joel Arteaga, but the Pride did not stop battling, as Evelyn made consecutive shots to close out a 7-0 Regis scoring stretch. Brendan Kittredge hit a three-pointer to increase the Clark lead back to nine at 68-59, but the Pride again chipped away, closing to within three at 68-65 on a layup by Thompson.

Davern made consecutive layups, but Rosa answered with a three-pointer to keep Regis close. The Pride drew to within one with 37 seconds left in regulation on layups by Rosa and Trinidad, but, after two made free throws by Lapeyrolerie, Regis could not convert on its next possession, and Arteaga iced the game with two made free throws with four seconds remaining on the clock.

Davern shot 11-of-21 from the field as he led all players with 25 points and 13 rebounds, while Gayman finished with 15 points and six assists before fouling out. Arteaga contributed 12 points, seven rebounds, six assists, and two steals, and Lapeyrolerie added 12 points, three rebounds, and two steals off the bench for the Cougars.

As a team, Clark shot 53.7 percent (29-of-54) from the field, including 9-of-22 from behind the three-point line, and 73.3 percent (11-of-15) from the free throw line. The Cougars also won the rebounding battle, 35-31.

The Pride shot 47.0 percent (31-of-66) from the field, including 5-of-20 from behind the three-point line, but just 45.0 percent (9-of-20) from the free throw line. Regis did earn 14 assists against just 13 turnovers, plus it scored 31 points off 23 Clark turnovers.

Regis (0-3) hosts Curry College Saturday, Nov. 23, beginning at 1 p.m. at Higgins Court. The Colonels are currently 3-1 heading into a home contest against Emmanuel College Wednesday evening.