Late Push Falls Short as Grizzlies Defeat Pride in Day One of Music City Classic

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Regis College men's basketball traveled south to Tennessee this week for the Music City Classic, hosted by Welch College, to face Franklin, where the Grizzlies survived a late push from the Pride to earn a 66-60 victory and drop Regis to 6–4 on the season.

Rob Elliott led the Pride with 14 points and nine rebounds, while Aamyr Sullivan added 12 points and five assists. Tyrone Chinn provided a spark off the bench, scoring 10 points in 11 minutes of action for Regis.

For the Grizzlies, Cooper Matthews paced the way with 12 points and four rebounds, while Justin Harrington chipped in 10 points and four assists in the victory.

How it Happened

Both squads traded the lead early before the Pride strung together a brief run, highlighted by five unanswered points from Elliott to double up the Grizzlies, 14-7, with 13:20 remaining in the half. Franklin stayed active and pulled ahead by two when a three-pointer gave them a 20–18 advantage at the 7:05 mark. Chinn provided a spark off the bench, and Gehrig Brynda knocked down his second three to briefly put the Pride back in front. However, the Grizzlies' Harrington closed the half with the final five points, sending his squad into the break leading 31-26.

The game swung back and forth early in the second half before Jeffrey Herbin went 3-for-4 at the charity stripe, followed by a pair of Hunter Zancan layups, helping the Pride build their largest lead of the game at 45-36 with 11:47 remaining. With under 10 minutes to play, the Grizzlies made their move, using a 15–2 run to reclaim the lead before Sullivan halted the momentum with a jumper, cutting the deficit to 56-51 with 6:09 remaining. However the Grizzlies answered with eight unanswered points to build a 13-point advantage, their largest lead of the game, before the Pride made one final push. Behind seven points from Chinn, the Pride responded with nine straight points to cut the deficit to a two-possession game with 11 seconds remaining, forcing the Grizzlies to call a timeout. Coming out of the regroup, the Grizzlies iced the game at the free throw line to sneak away with the 66-60 victory. 

Inside the Numbers

• Tyrone Chinn scored a career-high 10 points, including seven during the Pride's final push in the closing minutes.
• Hunter Zancan posted career highs with six points and five rebounds, while Rob Elliot tied his career-high with 14 points.
• This afternoon's meeting between the Pride and the Grizzlies marked the first matchup between the two programs.

Up Next

The Pride will take on Saint Mary's College of Maryland tomorrow, December 30, in their final game of the 2025 calendar year, with tip-off scheduled for 12 p.m. Eastern Standard Time.