DUDLEY, Mass. – The Roger Williams University Men's Basketball team suffered a 50-81 setback to Nichols College in the Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) opener for both school Wednesday night at the Nichols Athletic Center.

Senior Ryan Sheehan (North Attleboro, Mass.) led four Nichols players in double-figures with 21 points. Senior Sam Horning (Falmouth, Mass.) dropped in 14 points in his first start of the season as the Bison (4-3, 1-0 CCC) shot 53 percent from the field and canned 10 three-point field goals, led by four from both Sheehan and Horning. Sophomores Jalen Hurst (Hartford, Conn.) and Gustave Koumare (Harlem, N.Y.) each racked up 10 points and three steals.

Freshman Chris Bardwell (North Andover, Mass.) led the Hawks (1-5, 0-1 CCC) with 13 points and seven boards while junior leading-scorer Ryan Palumbo (Warwick, R.I.) went for 10 points, four rebounds and three assists.

Nichols raced out to a 14-5 lead behind six points from junior Joe Gallant (Salem, N.H.) and four from Hurst. A three-pointer from Horning pushed the lead to 13 at 23-10 with 6:23 on the clock, and Nichols took a 32-20 lead to the locker room courtesy of two free throws from Koumare. The Bison held the Hawks to 25 percent shooting in the first half and outrebounded them 25-21.

The Bison opened the second half by scoring 15 of the first 22 points – including 11 from Sheehan – to grab a 20-point lead 5:29 into the stanza. The lead grew to 25 on a three-point play by sophomore Christian Horton (Rutland, Mass.) and 27 on a jumper by Hurst 31 seconds later. A three from Horning gave Nichols a 29-point cushion with 8:37 remaining, and two free throws by Hurst with 4:09 to go made it a 30-point Nichols lead (74-44).

Horton closed the evening with seven points, six assists and four dimes while Gallant and Hurst each blocked three shots. Nichols held a 41-34 edge on the glass and outscored Roger Williams 15-6 on the fast break.    

The Bison host Gordon Saturday at noon. Roger Williams entertains Salve Regina at 2 p.m. on Saturday.

- Release courtesy of the Nichols College Sports Information Department