Men’s Basketball Holds Off Endicott, 77-73

BEVERLY, Mass. – Suffolk men's basketball held on for a 77-73 Conference of New England (CNE) win over Endicott Tuesday night at MacDonald Gymnasium. The Rams were up by as many as 16 before the Gulls made it a game late in the second half. The blue-and-gold managed to hold off the host and grab the victory to remain unbeaten in CNE contests this season. 

THE BASICS
SCORE: Suffolk 77 | Endicott 73
RECORDS: Suffolk (6-3, 3-0 CNE) | Endicott (4-4, 2-1 CNE)  

HOW IT HAPPENED
Out of a 12-all game, the Gulls put the Rams in a six-point, 18-12, hole that forced a Suffolk timeout at the midway point of the first.  

Out of the huddle, the Rams rattled off on a 12-1 run that featured a pair of triples by Cole LeVangie that sent Suffolk in front, 24-19, and Endicott used a timeout of its own. 

A game of runs ensued. First, the Gulls scored seven unanswered to trim the blue-and-gold's advantage to four, 32-28 with 2:21 on the clock. It was the Rams the rest of the way as they compiled a 7-2 stretch that ran out the first frame clock that sent Suffolk into the locker room up, 39-30.   

Suffolk surged out of the intermission with six quick points to grab a 15-point lead, 45-30.  

The Rams managed to maintain that double figure cushion at the midway point, 58-42.  

Things got interesting from there as the Gulls rallied around seven consecutive points that got the gap down to nine, 58-49, with 8:09 on the clock. 

After the teams traded points, Endicott used a baseline trey from Marcus Montagnino followed by a good jumper by Jeff Hill to cut Suffolk's lead to two possessions, 62-56, with 5:54 to go in regulation.  

The gap continued to shrink and got down to one, 67-66, after Endicott converted back-to-back and-1s with 2:24 on the clock.  

See-saw action closed things out and the one-point game remained in the final 30 seconds, 71-70.  

With the shot clock turned off and the Gulls gambled with the foul game at the 26 mark. Danny Yardemian made the front end of a 1-and-1 but missed the second. Luckily, the Rams were able to grab the rebound and Dzikas was sent to the line. The senior swished both freebies to pad the margin to four, 74-70.  

Endicott's persistence continued to pay off as Montagnino made two free throws to keep things close, 74-72, when Suffolk took a timeout with 13 seconds left.  

The game would be determined at the free throw line from there. Robertson connected on the front end of a 1-and-1, missed the backend, which allowed the Gulls another chance to comeback. Fortunately for Suffolk, Jeff Hill's own miss at the charity stripe landed in Yardemian's hands and the grad student was sent to the line where he would seal the victory for Suffolk.  

STATISTICALLY SPEAKING

• Robertson compiled a 32-point, eight-rebound, one-steal night. He shot 11-for-18 from the floor and 9-for-11 from the line to finish with a game-high. 
• Dzikas notched 13 points off the bench and did not miss at the line, 5-for-5. He added three boards and one takeaway. 
• LeVangie logged 10 points, three caroms and three helpers. 
• Yardemain notched 10 points, seven rebounds, five dimes and one steal. 
• Nick Verdile and Jake Gomez rounded out the Rams scorers with six points apiece. 
• Gomez stat line featured seven boards, five helpers, one block and one steal. 
• Suffolk shot 46.3 percent (25-54) from the floor, 28.0 percent (7-25) from 3-point land and 83.3 percent (20-24) from the charity stripe. 
• The Rams outrebounded the Gulls, 36-28. 
• Suffolk poured in 28 points in the paint.  

NOTEWORTHY

• The Rams started their CNE schedule 3-0 for the second time in program history, first since 2021-22. 
• Suffolk moved to 7-5 all-time against the Gulls. 
• Suffolk has won five games in a row against Endicott for the first time in program history. 
• The Rams are now 3-3 at Endicott. 
• Robertson had his second 30 point game of the season and fifth time of his collegiate career. 
• Robertson had a personal-best 32 points. 
• Dzikas rewrote his career-high in points (13) and free throws made (5) and attempt (5).  

WHAT'S NEXT?
Suffolk will take a break from play for finals and the holidays. The Rams will return to action Dec. 30-31 for the Trinity Holiday Tournament. The blue-and-gold will first take on WPI Monday, Dec. 30 at 7:30 p.m.