Men’s Basketball Bounces Back, Defeats Gordon, 82-67, in Season Finale 

WENHAM, Mass. – Suffolk men's basketball sealed up its shortened 2020-21 season with an 82-67 victory over Gordon Thursday night at the Bennett Center. The victory pushes the rams to 6-2 on the year, which marks one of the winningest team's, percentage wise, in the program's history.  

THE BASICS
SCORE: Suffolk 82 | Gordon 67
RECORDS: Suffolk (6-2) | Gordon (5-3)  

HOW IT HAPPENED
Less than 24 hours from an edge-of-your-seat thriller at Smith Court Wednesday, much of the same story can be written for the first 20 minutes at the Bennett Center Thursday Night.   

The Rams and Fighting Scots went shot-for-shot until Suffolk strung together three hoops in a row to go ahead multiple possessions, 24-15. The stretch, that ended with just over eight minutes remaining, featured layups from Alex Jacovides, Aidan Sullivan and Nate Hale.  

Justin Yu stopped the Suffolk's unanswered streak, however, Hale responded for the Rams with his second triple of the night to gain a double-digit distance for the blue-and-gold with 7:13 remaining in the first half.  

That 10-point margin did not last for long as the Fighting Scots outscored the Rams, 14-6, over the next six minutes to bring the gap down to two, 33-31. Jason Mahoney put away a jumper with 38 seconds left on the clock to send Suffolk into half up, 35-31.

More back-and-forth came out of the break, but Hale's shooting from three-point land proved to be lethal for the Fighting Scots. The senior rarely missed from beyond-the-arc to restore the Rams' sizeable cushion, 55-44, with 12:22 to go.  

From a Suffolk timeout, the shooting show continued. John Gates and Jacovides joined in with buckets from downtown to extend the margin to 15, 63-48, at the 9:06 minute mark. 

The Fighting Scots fought back and sliced the deficit down to eight. A Rams' timeout paid off for the visitors though as a layup from Wiliam Rowe and a long ball by Sullivan came out of the huddle. Those hoops regained the double figure advantage, one it would not give up, thanks to taking care of business at the free throw line down the stretch. 

STATISTICALLY SPEAKING

• Suffolk received top-notch performances from every player highlighted by Hale's impressive shooting performance. The senior went 6-for-9 from the field, including 4-for-7 from behind-the-arc to finish with 16 points. His offensive output also saw three assists with two rebounds and one takeaway to his credit as well. 
• Jacovides produced a game-high 25 points to go along with six caroms, three dimes and one steal. 
• Rowe recorded a 16-point, 10-rebound double-double. His boards were split evenly on the offensive and defensive ends of the hardwood. 
• Mulson rounded out the Rams' in double figures with 11 points. In addition, the senior chipped in four boards, one block and one steal. 
• Collectively Suffolk shot 50.8 percent (31-61) from the field and 81.3 percent (13-16) from the charity stripe. 
• The Fighting Scots out rebounded the Rams, 36-31. 

NOTEWORTHY

• Suffolk took down Gordon for the first time under Jeff Juron's guidance. 
• The win is the first for the Rams over the Fighting Scots since a 76-75 decision Feb. 3, 1983.
• The Rams are now 11-7 all-time against Gordon, 1-1 in the Juron era. 
• Rowe registered his third straight double-double, also his third collegiate double-double. 
• Jacovides made and took a career-high eight free throws.  

POST-GAME PIC

SUFFOLK'S SCHEDULE
The game wrapped up the Rams' abbreviated season.