Nichols 91, Worcester State 65
Worcester, MA --- Junior Chris Vallee (Fitchburg, MA) scored a game-high 29 points to lead the Nichols Bison to a season opening win over Worcester State College in the Worcester County Men's Basketball Tip-Off Tournament. The tournament was held on the Leicester Campus of Becker College.
Nichols broke the game open in the first half with a 15-7 run to take a 10 point lead six minutes into the game. Led by Justin Lewis'(Hopedale, MA) 20 points and 5 rebounds and Vallee's 19 point and 4 rebounds Nichols led at half 21. Worcester State was led in the first half by Ryan Frassica (Brockton, MA) and Will Spont (Bellingham, MA) who both poured in six points a piece.
In the second half Worcester State tried to cut into Nichols lead but was unsuccessful, never getting the lead down to less that sixteen points. Nichols lead was as much as 30 points midway through the second half. Senior forward Mark Retallic from Oxford, MA had a team high 20 points and 8 rebounds for the Lancers, Frassica finished the game with 14 points. Nichols out rebounded Worcester State 42-38 and the two teams had a combined 44 personal fouls. Lewis finished with 26 points and a team high 7 rebounds for Nichols.
The Bison advance to the Tip-Off Championship Saturday night at 6:00 pm vs. WPI. The Lancers will take on Becker College in the consolation game match-up at 4:00 pm.
Release Courtesy of Becker Sports Information