Worcester, MA --- Nichols College junior Ryan Sheehan (North Attleboro, MA) scored a team-best 28 points to lead the Bison past Worcester State, 95-88, in non-conference men's basketball action this evening at the Lancer Gymnasium.
In the 85th meeting between the two squads, the Bison (4-4) were also paced by sophomore classmates Jessy Michaud (Ft. Lauderdale, FL) who tallied 18 points and Matt Langadas (Casco, ME) added 16 points for the visitors.
Worcester State (5-3) was led by junior Dane Jobst (Athol, MA) who recorded his fifth double-double on the season as he finished with a game-high 40 points to go along with 14 boards. The total marked the most for a Lancer in nearly 18 years as it tied for the fifth highest sum in program history.
Senior Kyle Ferreira (Westport, MA) also turned in a double-digit scoring effort adding 11 points in the defeat while third-year Jeremy Ross (Holden, MA) chipped in with eight points, nine rebounds and five assists.
Nichols held a 10 point lead at the midway point of the second half and a 78-69 advantage with 7:40 left. Jobst then netted six points in an eight point swing to make it a 78-77 game at the 4:41 mark
With the Lancers trailing 82-81 one minute later, Langadas sank a lay-up to make it a three point contest. WSU then missed their next three shots from the field and a one-and-one chance to give Nichols a golden opportunity to extend their lead.
The Bison took full advantage with a 6-2 run over the next 1:30 of play highlighted by three points from Sheehan.
After a trey by senior Kyle Ferreira (Westport, MA) made it a 90-86 deficit, the Lancers missed their chances to get back into the game with two more missed shots while Nichols canned four consecutive free throws to ice the game in the waning seconds and seal up the victory.
The opening frame featured five ties and five lead changes as Nichols emerged with the 45-44 edge at the intermission.
Nichols did hold the lead for much of the final 10 minutes of the first stanza, but the Lancers did not trail by more than six with 3:49 left and tied the score on a sophomore Charles Gunter (Boston, MA/New Misson) lay-up at the 55 second mark.
After the intermission, the Bison led, 62-57, five minutes into the second frame, but used a 9-4 surge to take control and lead 71-61 with 10:26 remaining.
Nichols shot 59 percent (38-for-65) for the game including a 66 percent effort in the second half (19-for-29). The Lancers hit a solid 43 percent for the contest (36-for-83).
The Bison connected on 10 of 22 three-point attempts (46 percent), but struggled from the free throw line as they hit just nine of their 18 bids (50 percent).
Worcester State was able to control the glass corralling 50 rebounds as Nichols only pulled down 28 boards and the hosts also held leads in points in the paint (52-50), points off turnovers (19-15) and second chance points (17-3). One-third of the Bison offense came by way of 35 fast-break points.
The last WSU player to score 40 points was Lancer Hall of Famer Al Pettway who netted 44 on February 11, 1993 against Framingham State.
The Blue and Gold close out their semester with Springfield on Friday night at 5 PM while the Bison will play again next semester against Westfield State on January 3 at 5:30 PM.