CCC Semifinals Sends Men’s Basketball to Nichols Thursday

SUFFOLK vs. NICHOLS
Date Time Venue Video Stats Series Last Meeting   Last Suffolk Win Streak	Thursday, Feb. 24 7:00 PM Nichols Athletic Center Dudley, Mass. NicholsAthletics.com NicholsAthletics.com 36-14 Feb. 14, 2022, W, 89-83 SAME W1

BOSTON – Suffolk men's basketball keeps its quest for a Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) crown alive as the fourth-seeded Rams make the trip to Dudley, Massachusetts, tonight, Thursday, Feb. 24 to clash with top-seeded Nichols in the semifinals. Tip-off of the postseason matchup is set for 7 p.m.

SOCIAL SAYINGS
Ram Nation has a chance to keep up with all the latest news and notes on Suffolk Athletics, its student-athletes and teams by following the Rams on  Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. Fans are encouraged to use the hashtag #RamNation a behind-the-scene look at Suffolk Athletics.

2022 CCC MEN'S BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT
First Round – Monday, Feb. 21
#7 Gordon defeated #10 Curry, 80-66 – Box Score
#9 Wentworth defeated #8 University of New England, 93-73 – Box Score 

Quarterfinals – Tuesday, Feb. 22
#1 Nichols defeated #9 Wentworth, 93-86 – Box Score
#2 Salve Regina defeated #7 Gordon, 78-57 – Box Score
#4 Suffolk defeated #5 Endicott, 75-73 – Box Score
#6 Western New England defeated #3 Roger Williams, 67-63 – Box Score 

Semifinals – Thursday, Feb. 24
#4 Suffolk at #1 Nichols – 7 PM – Live Stats | Live Video
#6 Roger Williams at #2 Salve Regina – 7 PM – Live Stats | Live Video 

Championship – Saturday, Feb. 26
Semifinal Winners 

RAMS IN THE POSTSEASON

• Suffolk is the midst of it's first-ever CCC postseason run.
• The league postseason appearance marks the Rams 17th overall and ninth straight conference playoff showing.
• Suffolk is the fourth seed in the conference postseason for just the second time, first since 2004.  
• The Rams won a postseason outing at home for the first time since Feb. 20, 2002, when the Rams bested Emmanuel, 89-61, in the GNAC Quarterfinals.
• Tuesday night's 75-73 quarterfinals win over Endicott marked just the second-ever home playoff win for Suffolk.
• The Rams moved onto the conference semifinals for the fifth time, first since 2018-19.
• Suffolk is 1-3 in league semifinals.
• Suffolk is in the hunt for its ticket to the conference championship. The blue-and-gold has never made it past the semis with Jeff Juron on the bench.
• The Rams have only competed in the league title tilt once, when it grabbed GNAC glory in 2002.
• Under Juron's guidance, Suffolk is 2-5 in the postseason. 

LAST TIME OUT
In one of the most electric environments that Larry E. and Michael S. Smith Court has seen in nearly two years, Suffolk men's basketball put together an instant classic as the fourth-seeded Rams edged fifth seed Endicott, 75-73, in the Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) Quarterfinals Tuesday night. 

MORE READING: Men's Basketball Escapes Endicott in CCC Quarterfinals, 75-73

RAMS REACTIONS

#RamNation sure made its presence known in tonight's @SuffolkMBB 75-73 #CCCMBB Quarterfinal win over @EndicottMBB at Smith Court ��#d3hoops pic.twitter.com/NcH9KK9EvY

— Suffolk Athletics (@gosuffolkrams) February 23, 2022

RAMS RUNDOWN
Suffolk, who has won four of the last five games, improved to 16-9 on the season Tuesday night. 

The Rams, who produce 82.7 ppg, sees four different players in double figures in Nate Hale (18.1), Aidan Sullivan (11.9), Keenan Robertson (11.0) and William Rowe (10.1). Two of those student-athletes, Robertson and Rowe, are crucial on the glass as the former leads the way with 7.0 rpg with the latter right on his heels with 6.2 rpg.

BISON BREAKDOWN
Nichols downed ninth seed Wentworth, 93-86, to open tournament play Tuesday. The 23-3 Bison take a three-game win streak into the semis. One of Nichols' three losses came via Suffolk, an 89-83 decision 10 days ago in Dudley, Massachusetts. 

The Bison's top scoring threats are also the biggest components on the boards. Jakigh Dottin boasts a team-high in scoring with 20.0 ppg and factors in the rebounding conversation as well with 6.0rpg. Jaekwon Spencer is a two-way player also with 16.0 ppg and 6.9 rpg, while Matt Morrow averages a near double-double with 13.0 ppg and 9.4 rpg. Matthew Alectus (15.1 ppg, 7.3 rpg), Tahmeen Dupree (14.3 ppg, 4.5 rpg), Jason O'Regan (10.1 ppg, 6.7 rpg) are consistent contributors as well.

WE MEET AGAIN
Suffolk split the two-game season with Nichols, 1-1. The Rams fell on their home court, 91-86, Jan. 4, before defeating the Bison in their own gym, 89-83, Feb. 14.

MORE READING: Nichols Snaps Men's Basketball's Win Streak, 91-86

INSIDE THE SERIES

• Suffolk sits at 36-14 all-time versus Nichols.
• The Rams are 14-6 against the Bison as the away team.
• In Boston, Suffolk is 21-8 in the all-time series.
• Suffolk and Nichols have needed extra time to decide a winner twice.
• The Rams have won both overtime contests, one in Dudley (Dec. 9, 1996) and one in Boston, 67-64 (Dec. 11, 1964).
• Suffolk is 3-1 versus Bison in the Jeff Juron era.
• The Rams and Bison will battle in the postseason for the first time.

EYES ON THE GAME

ALL-LEAGUE ACCOLADES
Following the first-ever season competing in the Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC), Suffolk men's basketball saw two standout student-athletes receive All-CCC recognition in Nate Hale and Aidan Sullivan. Hale picked up a spot on the first team, while Sullivan sealed a slot on the third team, the league office announced Tuesday.

MORE REAIDNG: Men's Basketball Pair Picks Up All-CCC 

RAM CAM

WHAT'S NEXT?
The winner of Thursday night's semifinal will earn its way to the CCC Championship where it will take on the victor of the semifinal between sixth seed Western and New England and second seed Salve Regina Saturday, Feb. 26.