Eric Lynch Scores 1,000th Career Point as Men’s Basketball Tops UNE, 81-67

QUINCY, Mass.- Senior Eric Lynch (Alpharetta, Ga.) became the 31st player in program history to reach 1,000 career points, leading the Eastern Nazarene College men's basketball team to an 81-67 victory over the University of New England Tuesday evening at the Lahue Physical Education Center.

The Lions improve to 18-6 on the year and 12-5 in Commonwealth Coast Conference action with the win. The Nor'easters progress to 12-12 overall and 7-10 in league action.

Eric Lynch registered 14 points on the night while also dishing out six assists and collecting a pair of rebounds. Justin Wagner (Oklahoma City, Okla.) poured in a game-best 15 points as he splashed five three-pointers in the victory. Jeremy Wagner (Oklahoma City, Okla.) drained three treys on the night to finish with 11 points and four boards. Lequan Gomes (Fairfield, Calif.) contributed with 10 points while grabbing a team-high seven rebounds. Jaylen Owens (Johns Creek, Ga.) registered 10 points, four assists and three steals in the game.

Eastern Nazarene utilized an early 8-0 run to establish a 10-point cushion less than five minutes into the contest, 17-7. Christian Lynch (Alpharetta, Ga.) capped off the run with a fast-break layup setup by Eric Lynch's no-look dime.

The University of New England cut the deficit to six with 11:29 remaining in the opening frame on a jumper by Evrim Ozkan, 18-12.

The Lions pushed their lead to 12 as Justin Wagner canned a three-pointer from the left corner, 30-18, with 6:02 left to play in the half.

The home side headed into the halftime break clutching a 39-28 advantage.

Eastern Nazarene shot 46.9% from the floor in the first half and 37.5% from three-point land. The University of New England owned a field-goal percentage of 39.3% at the intermission while connecting on just 3-of-11 from downtown.

Eric Lynch led the Lions with eight points through 20 minutes of action while Owens and Jeremy Wagner each tallied six points.

A 12-2 stretch increased the hosts' margin to 21 with 11:35 to go. After a pair of flagrant foul shots by Jeremy Wagner, David Eddings (Endicott, N.Y.) banked in a layup to widen the gap to 58-37.

With six minutes left to play in the game, Eric Lynch chalked up his 999th and 1,000th career point as he converted two free throws.

Despite being outscored 14-8 in the final five minutes, Eastern Nazarene earned its fifth-straight win and pulled into a tie for second in the conference standings with Wentworth.

The Lions posted a field-goal percentage of 50% on the night to go with 13-for-26 shooting from behind the arc. The Nor'easters shot 40.4% from the floor and 31.8% from the perimeter in the contest.

Eastern Nazarene wraps up the 2015-16 regular season on the road at league-leading Nichols February 20