Men’s Basketball Triumphs at Suffolk, 90-82

BOSTON, Mass.- The Eastern Nazarene men's basketball team topped Suffolk 90-82 in non-league action Tuesday evening at Regan Gymnasium. The Lions jump to 2-1 overall while the Rams slide to 1-2 on the season.

Senior Chima Ezeigbo (Roanoke, Va.) poured in a game-high 21 points for the visitors and grabbed a team-best six rebounds. Seniors Mike McCoy (Altamonte Springs, Fla.) and Max Barbosa (Dorchester, Mass.) both tallied 15 points in the victory. Barbosa registered four assists and four steals while McCoy picked up three helpers on the night and went 3-for-3 from beyond the arc.

Rookies Justin Wagner (Oklahoma City, Okla.) and Jaylen Owens (Johns Creek, Ga.) both came off the bench and chipped in with nine and eight points, respectively.

The two sides traded baskets to open the game before Eastern Nazarene scored six-straight points to claim an 11-6 edge with 16:09 remaining in the half.

The Lions expanded their lead to 17 with less than four minutes left to play in the opening period, 37-20, on a lay-up by Ezeigbo.

The visitors headed into the intermission sporting a 45-27 advantage. Ezeigbo led Eastern Nazarene at the break with 13 points while McCoy netted nine. The Lions shot 52.9% from the floor in the half and 60% from downtown.

A trey by Brian Hard (Weymouth, Mass.) 2:06 into the second stanza stretched Eastern Nazarene's lead to 21 points, 51-30.

Suffolk chiseled away at the Lions' advantage and cut the deficit to nine with 7:45 left to play as Chris Torres banked in a lay-in.

A pair of free throws by Torres leveled the score at 75-75 and gave the Rams a one-point edge, 76-75, with three minutes showing on the clock.

The score was knotted at 80-80 heading into the final minute of the second half as a free throw by Owens with 38 seconds remaining gave the visitors a one-point lead.

The Lions converted nine attempts from the charity stripe down the stretch to close out the game en route to their second-straight win.

Both teams connected on 53.3% from the field in the contest on 32-of-60 shooting.

Up next, the Lions welcome Wheelock to the Lahue Physical Education Center November 21 in the first home contest of the season at 5 pm.