Men’s Basketball Trumps Gordon, 79-51

BOSTON – Suffolk men's basketball handled Gordon, 79-51, in Conference of New England (CNE) action Saturday afternoon at Larry E. and Michael S. Smith Court. Hatcher Nordquist was the main catalyst to the Rams' near 30-point victory as the freshman poured in a career-high, game-best 22 points to anchor the blue-and-gold's offensive output.  

THE BASICS
SCORE: Suffolk 79 | Gordon 51
RECORDS: Suffolk (11-7, 7-2 CNE) | Gordon (6-12, 5-4 CNE)

HOW IT HAPPENED

• Seven different Rams supplied one bucket to help the host grab a 17-8 edge that forced Gordon to take its first timeout of the day seven minutes into the action.
• The Fighting Scots managed to pour in four quick points before the blue-and-gold surged ahead by 20 thanks to a 13-0 stretch that was bookend by 3-point plays from Nordquist. The freshman ignited the with an old-school 3-point play variety and capped it off by a long ball. 
• Six straight Gordon points allowed the visitors to chip the distance down to 14, 32-18, with 3:45 left in the first. 
• Suffolk outscored Gordon, 6-3, the rest of the way to go into the break up, 38-21. 
• It was an even first six minutes of the second half, but thanks to its first frame scoring frenzy Suffolk sat comfortable in front, 55-33, when Jeff Juron took a timeout at teh12:48 mark. 
• Gordon put up six quick points out of the huddle to trim the gap to 16, 55-39, at the midway point.  
• The blue-and-gold did not allow the Fighting Scots to get closer than that the rest of the way as the trio of James Jones, Nordquist and Connor Strickland combined for a 14-2 rally that gave the host a 69-41 cushion with 6:01 to go. Nordquist was responsible for eight in that scoring stretch. 
• It was cruise control for the blue-and-gold the rest of the way en route to the 79-51 triumph. 

STATISTICALLY SPEAKING

• Nordquist's 22-point performance was behind an 8-for-16 showing from the field that included a 5-for-9 effort from 3-point land. The floor general dished out two dimes, pulled down six caroms and had two takeaways. 
• Strickland supplied 13 points as the senior did not miss from the floor, 6-for-6. His stat line featured three boards and one helper as well. 
• Jones contributed an 11-point, seven-rebound, two-steal, one assist performance. 
• Greg Keane (7 rebounds, 6 points, 2 blocks, two steals and 1 assist) and Harrison Neil (9 points, 6 rebounds, two blocks, two steals) had all-around efforts as well. 
• Suffolk shot 48.5 percent (32-66) on the afternoon including a 46.4 conversion rate from behind-the-arc. 
• The Rams outrebounded the Fighting Scots, 42-35.
• The blue-and-gold capitalized on Gordon's 14 turnovers and turned them into 24 points. 

NOTEWORTHY

• Suffolk won its 10th straight meeting with Gordon to move to 20-7 all-time against the Fighting Scots. 
• At home, Suffolk owns a 7-2 record versus Gordon.
• The Rams are 10-1 when playing the Fighting Scots with Juron on the bench.
• Nordquist had the first 20-point game of his career and finished with personal-best in points (22), field goals made (8) and 3-point field goals made (5). 
• Strickland also rewrote career-highs in points (13), field goals made (6) and sunk the second triple of his collegiate career. 

WHAT'S NEXT?
Suffolk takes its talents to Providence, Rhode Island, for a rematch with Johnson & Wales Wednesday, Jan. 28 at 7:30 p.m.