WORCESTER, Mass. – Sophomore Ryan Rubenskas (Bridgewater, Mass.) had game-highs with 28 points and 15 rebounds, but Nichols College defeated Worcester State 80-68 in their men's basketball 2021-22 home opener on Wednesday evening at Brissette '88 court.
The Bison (4-0) had four players in double-figures, led by Matthew Alectus (Hollywood, Fla.), who came off the bench to go 8-11 from the floor and 2-4 from long-range. Alectus also had nine rebounds and three assists for Nichols, who led by five at the break and never trailed in the second half.
Rubenskas was 13-22 from the floor and had ten rebounds on the defensive glass alone. He scored 16 of his points in the second half, when he was 7-12 from the field and 1-1 from three-point land.
Worcester State (2-3) got as close as one early in the second half on a layup by Erik Bjorn (Holden, Mass.), who had 15 rebounds as well, helping the Lancers to a 54-50 edge on the glass.
Nichols responded when Alectus and Jakigh Dottin (Cambridge, Mass.) found their touch from inside the paint, taking a double-digit lead at 53-41. They would extend their advantage to 14 on a triple by Dottin, who had 16 points and six assists, one of four Bison in double-figures, and the Nichols lead stayed above ten the rest of the night.
Rubenskas had 12 points and seven rebounds in the first half, where three-pointers by Tyler Spencer (Pembroke, Mass.) and Sam Dion (Barre, Mass.) halfway through the period gave the Lancers slim leads.
With the Lancers up 24-22, Nichols went on a 13-2 run, capped by a three-pointer by Alectus to take a 35-26 lead. The lead stayed in single digits, however, and another baseline jumper by Rubenskas in the final seconds pulled Worcester State to within five at the break, 39-34.
Dion finished the night with nine points and a team-high five assists and three steals. Chris Cardoso (Jamaica Plain, Mass.) was the only other Lancer in double-figures, with 12 points and 9 rebounds, while Zion Hendrix (Charlotte, N.C.) had four assists off the bench.
Tahmeen Dupree (New Britain, Conn.) added 13 points and 9 rebounds, while Jason O'Regan (Charlton, Mass.) had eight points and two blocks to go with six caroms. Jaekwon Spencer (Bristol, Conn.) was the final Bison in double-figures, with 11 points, along with four assists, six rebounds, a block and two steals.
The Lancers continue their two-game home-stand with a game against Eastern Connecticut State on Saturday at 1:00 PM.
Nichols takes the weekend off before hosting Hamilton next Tuesday at 6:00 PM.