Pride Men’s Hoop Breaks into Win Column, 80-68

MILTON, Mass. – Regis College used two significant scoring runs to establish a lead heading into the second half, and then the Pride held off SUNY Canton for an 80-68 victory Saturday afternoon on the second day of the Autism Acceptance Classic hosted by Curry College at Katz Gymnasium.

Russell Rau (Fitchburg, Mass.) hit four three-pointers and was a perfect 6-for-6 from the free throw line as he led all players with 22 points, plus he pulled down seven rebounds. Justin Evelyn (Uniondale, N.Y.) scored 13 points, Jamir Harvey (Robbins, Ill.) contributed 12 points, four rebounds, and three assists off the bench, and Zakaria Latifi (Holliston, Mass.) hit three key long distance shots for nine points.

SUNY Canton (2-3) scored the first six points of the game before Latifi hit his first three-pointer 2:45 into the contest, starting a 20-4 scoring run for the Pride over a seven-minute span. The Roos closed to within six points at 20-14, but Regis responded with an 11-3 scoring run, capped by another three-pointer from Latifi.

The Roos brought their deficit back into single digits thanks to a layup by Terrence Fields and a three-pointer from Bryon Streb, but Rau hit a three-pointer to start a 15-4 scoring run over the final four minutes of the first half. Regis held SUNY Canton without a field goal over that stretch to extend its lead to 46-26 heading into halftime.

Latifi hit his third three-pointer on the first possession of the second half, but the Roos started to cut into the Pride lead with a 13-2 scoring run, capped by a three-pointer from Fields, to close to within 10 points at 54-44. Regis stopped the rally thanks to an offensive rebound and putback by Rau as well as a three-pointer from Ned Fitzpatrick (Providence, R.I.).

Late in the second half, SUNY Canton made one final push with a 10-2 scoring run, capped by three-pointers from Brennan Harmer and Fields, to bring its deficit back into single digits at 75-68 with 1:14 left in regulation. Harvey and Rau would combine to shoot 5-for-6 from the free throw line in the final minute to hold off the Roos.

Streb led the Roos with 15 points, while Jevonte Williams finished with 13 points and a game-high nine rebounds. Fields also ended the game with 13 points, and Harmer added nine points, five rebounds, five assists, and five steals.

As a team, the Pride shot 45.6 percent (26-for-57) from the field, including 11-for-27 from behind the three-point line, and 70.8 percent (17-for-24) from the free throw line. Regis scored 26 points off 20 SUNY Canton turnovers and held the Roos to just two second chance points.

Regis College (1-3) makes the short trip to Framingham State University to face the Rams Tuesday, Nov. 21, starting at 7:30 p.m.