CCC CHAMPIONSHIP: No. 3 Endicott, No. 1 Nichols Meet Again For Title

CCC TOURNAMENT RELEASE / BRACKET

BEVERLY, Mass. – The third-seeded Endicott men's basketball program (19-8) will travel to No. 1 seeded Nichols (24-3) this Saturday at 1 PM to play for the Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) Championship.

THE MATCHUP/SERIES HISTORY: Endicott holds an 18-13 advantage in the all-time series. Meanwhile, this season, Nichols is 2-0 against the Gulls with victories on 11/29/17 (W, 105-82 | Dudley, Mass.) and 1/24/18 (W, 83-63 | Beverly, Mass.). Saturday's matchup also marks the second time in as many years Nichols and Endicott have met in the CCC title game. Last year, the Bison came out on top 67-64, but Endicott returned the favor in the NCAA Tournament with a dominant 111-75 win in the second round.

HOW THEY GOT HERE: The Gulls topped Wentworth, 83-74, in the CCC Tournament quarterfinals and followed that up with an 86-70 victory over crosstown rival Gordon College on the road in the semifinals. Nichols made quick work of Western New England University in the quarterfinals, 100-68, and bested Roger Williams, 89-75, in the semis.

SCOUTING ENDICOTT: The Gulls are a program-best 10-3 on the road this season and are 7-3 in their last 10 contests.

As a team, Endicott ranks among the CCC's best in the following categories: points per game (4th, 83.1), field goal percentage (5th, 44.3), three-point field goals made (2nd, 343), three-point field goal percentage (4th, 39.1), free throws made (6th, 342), free throw percentage (5th, 72.3), rebounds per game (5th, 38.5), assists per game (4th, 17.2), steals per game (6th, 6.8), blocks per game (5th, 2.6), and fewest points allowed per game (t-3rd, 75.8).

Individually, Keith Brown (Pelham, N.H.) is second in the CCC in points with 619 (No. 1 PPG, 23.8), while Matt McDevitt (Cumberland, Maine) ranks No. 19 with 306 (No. 23 PPG, 11.3). Brown also ranks No. 12 in the country in points per game (23.8), No. 7 in three-point field goals made (100) and No. 10 in three-point field goals made per game (3.88), while McDevitt is No. 9 in three-point field goal percentage (46.9).

SCOUTING NICHOLS: The Bison are 12-1 at home this season and 10-0 in their last 10 games.

Among all CCC teams, Nichols ranks among the best in the following categories: points per game (2nd, 91.0), field goal percentage (3rd, 47.2), three-point field goals made (3rd, 332), three-point field goal percentage (t-1st, 40.2), free throws made (4th, 363), free throw percentage (1st, 73.8), rebounds per game (3rd, 40.3), assists per game (3rd, 17.7), steals per game (2nd, 8.9), blocks per game (6th, 2.2), and fewest points allowed per game (t-3rd, 75.8).

Nationally, Nichols also ranks No. 9 in scoring margin (15.2) and No. 5 in won-lost percentage (88.9).

Individually, the Bison feature three of the league's premier scorers in Marcos Echevarria (Lynn, Mass.), Daequon Antoine (Fort Mill, S.C.), and Deante Bruton (New London, Conn.). Echevarria ranks fourth in total points (588) and points per game (21.8), while Antoine is ninth in total points (394) and 11th in points per game (14.5), and Bruton is No. 13 in total points (371) and No. 8 in points per game (17.7).

WHAT'S AT STAKE

The winner between Endicott and Nichols will earn the conference's automatic bid into the NCAA Tournament in March.

Tournament Schedule

(Games hosted by the higher seed)

Quarterfinals – Tuesday, Feb. 20

#1 Nichols def. #8 Western New England, 100-68 | BOX
#2 Gordon def. #7 Salve Regina, 99-85 | BOX
#3 Endicott def. #6 Wentworth, 83-74 | BOX
#4 Roger Williams def. #5 University of New England, 88-81 | BOX

Semifinals – Thursday, Feb. 22

#1 Nichols def. #4 Roger Williams, 89-75 | BOX
#3 Endicott def. #2 Gordon, 86-70 | BOX

Finals – Saturday, Feb. 24

#3 Endicott at #1 Nichols, 1 PM

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(Photo credit - Nick Grace)