WILDCATS SQUEAK BY PRIDE IN OT, 64-63

WESTON, Mass. – Wheelock College overcame a five-point halftime deficit to force overtime and squeak past Regis College, 64-63, on Tuesday night in New England Collegiate Conference men's basketball action in Weston, Mass. The Pride drops to 5-9 overall and 3-3 in the NECC while the Wildcats inch closer to .500 at 6-8 overall and 4-2 in the league. The Pride had four players in double-figures led by Osanto Marc (Kissimmee, Fla.) and Jonathon Josselin's (Medford, Mass.) 15 points apiece.

The Pride came out strong to start the game as they grabbed an early 8-5 lead on an Ahmad Charles (Cambridge, Mass.) layup. The Wildcats responded by taking their first lead of the contest at 10-8 on an Adam Russo (Arlington, Mass.) made jumper with 13:15 remaining in the opening period. The Pride quickly overcame their first deficit of the game by going on an 11-0 run that included five points apiece from Marc and Charles.

Not to be outdone, the Wildcats went on an 8-0 run of its own, capped-off by a Bashir Hudson (Jamaica Plain, Mass.) jumper that made it a 19-18 game. Mike Seldon (Boston, Mass.) and Hudson exchanged made baskets on the ensuing possessions before Jonathon Josselin and Robert Edwards (Memphis, Tenn.) scored the final four points of the period to give Regis a 25-20 advantage headed into the break.

Osanto Marc led all scorers at halftime with nine points on a perfect 4-of-4 shooting. Robert Edwards chipped in on both ends of the floor with six points and four blocks. Eric Rice (Woburn, Mass.) led the Wildcats with six points, while Max Kaim (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.) and Kyle Pierce (Burlington, Mass.) each scored three points and had four rebounds in the first half.

Regis began the second half by grabbing its second nine-point lead of the game following an Edwards jumper. On the next Regis possession, Josselin gave the Pride its biggest lead of the day with a running jumper that left Regis leading 38-27 with 14:04 remaining in regulation. The Wildcats quickly knifed into the deficit on a triple by Daniel Higgins (Wakefield, Mass.) and a three-point-play from Bashir Hudson that made it a five point game.

Jonathon Josselin's only third made three-pointer made of the season stretched the Pride lead to eight points with only 9:39 remaining before back-to-back layups by Eric Rice, including a three-point play, made it a three-point game. Victor Kashouh's (Providence, R.I.) jumper at the 5:53 mark left Regis clinging to a one-point lead before a triple from Osanto Marc stretched it back to a four-point game.

The resilient Wildcats would not go away, however, as a layup by Rice followed by a pair of freethrows from the senior on the next possession left the game tied with just over four minutes to play. Following a miss by the Wildcats, Ryan Chambers (Abington, Mass.) buried a deep three to stake the Pride to a 53-50 lead, but on Wheelock's next possession, Eric Rice converted another and-one layup to tie it at 53-all.

Jonathon Josselin nailed two free throws and Osanto Marc added one more to help build another Regis three-point lead with 1:49 remaining. Max Kaim hit a layup to make it a one point game, but Chambers missed the first half of a one-and-one on the Pride's next possession which led to a fastbreak opportunity for the Wildcats. Kyle Pierce knifed his way to the basket but his layup attempt was off the mark, however Bashir Hudson was there for the monster tip-slam that gave Wheelock its first lead of the game since the 13:15 mark of the first half.

Regis had two chances to regain the lead, but Wheelock came away with the ball and stepped to the line for a pair of freethrows. Max Kaim calmly knocked down the first one, but a timeout by Regis in between shots forced the second attempt to be short, and Regis raced up the court looking to either tie or go for the win. Jonathon Josselin drove left and made an attempt at the basket but was fouled on the way to the hoop leading to a pair of Regis freebies. Josselin seized the opportunity as the senior buried both freethrows to make it a 58-58 game. Wheelock's Pierce was unable to get a shot off before the clock expired as the teams were headed into overtime.

Regis grabbed an early one point lead in the extra frame as Robert Edwards went 1-for-2 from the charity stripe for an early 59-58 lead. Eric Rice took the lead back for Wheelock with his turnaround jumper before a pair of Bashir Hudson freethrows gave the Wildcats a 62-59 lead. Osanto Marc stepped to the line on the next Regis possession and made the pair to make it a one point game again and nearly a minute later Josselin buried two more freethrows to give the Pride a 63-62 lead with only 1:25 left.

The ensuing Wheelock possession led to Osanto Marc fouling out of the game and putting Bashir Hudson on the line. Hudson gave the Wildcats the lead for good with just over a minute remaining as he made both freethrows. Regis would only get off one more shot attempt in the game as a late Pride turnover gave the ball back to the Wildcats with only 0.2 showing on the clock. Wheelock inbounded the ball and ran away with the 64-63 overtime victory over the Pride.

Regis was led by 15 points apiece from Osanto Marc and Jonathon Josselin, who also grabbed eight rebounds. Ryan Chambers scored 10 points and Robert Edwards had 11 to round out the scoring leaders while Ahmad Charles came off the bench to score four points and grab a game-high 10 rebounds.

Wheelock's Eric Rice just missed a double-double with a game-high 20 points and nine rebounds. Bashir Hudson scored 15 points, while Max Kaim was the final Wildcat player in double-figures with 10 points, seven rebounds, and four assists.

Regis returns to action on Thursday night when the Pride travels to Southern Vermont University for a 6:00 p.m. tip-off with the Mountaineers. Wheelock will take on those same Mountaineers on Saturday afternoon in a 3:00 p.m. home game.