Endicott Ends 2013 with Comeback Win over Salem State, 84-80

SALEM, Mass. – The Endicott men's basketball team ended the 2013 portion of their 2013-14 schedule by erasing an 11-point halftime deficit to Little East Conference (LEC) and North Shore rival Salem State and winning 84-80 in regulation.  The Gulls will enter the new year with a 7-2 overall record with a 6-1 standing in non-conference action to-date. 

Endicott, after going 1-1 in CCC contests with a win over Eastern Nazarene and a loss to Gordon, will return to their league schedule on Saturday, January 4^th for a 3:00 pm tip-off with the University of New England (1-7, 1-1 CCC).  Endicott is 14-10 all-time against the Nor'easters but lost both of their meetings during the 2012-13 regular season.

The Gulls were just 1-4 against Salem State heading into Monday evening's showdown with the Vikings, garnering only a 93-89 victory in January of 2012.  Trailing 45-34 at halftime, Endicott saw junior forward Andre Makris (Southbury, Conn.) score 16 of his game-high 26 points to get the Gulls back into contention for a win.  In the second period, Makris connected on 6-of-9 attempts from the floor including 2-of-3 three-point attempts with two free throws while he grabbed five boards, blocked a shot, and recorded a steal.  For the game, Makris totaled eight rebounds and two blocks.

Makris' three-pointer with 4:03 remaining in the game pulled Endicott to within one at 70-69 and two possessions later took their first lead since early in the first half with freshman guard Kamahl Walker (Worcester, Mass.) grabbed an offensive rebound with a put back.  The two teams exchanged baskets and the lead and with Endicott trailing 74-73 with 1:37 on the clock, Makris hit his biggest bucket of the game with a layup off the glass to give the Blue and Green their final lead. 

Junior guard John Henault (Lunenburg, Mass.) followed with a layup and free throw on the foul and graduate student Lachlan Magee (Melbourne, Australia), one night after eclipsing 1,000 career points in a win over Berkeley (N.Y.), added another bucket to push the lead up to six points.  Free throws by Makris and Henault in the final seconds of the game kept a late Salem State offensive burst at bay as Endicott held on for the 84-80 win. 

Walker finished with 16 points off the bench with four rebounds and three assists while Henault, Magee, and senior guard Greg Jacques (Brockton, Mass.) contributed with 10, eight, and seven points in starting roles.  Sophomore forward Taylor Rioux (Ivoryton, Conn.) was solid off the bench with eight points and seven caroms in 16 game minutes.

Salem State had two scorers with over 20 points as both Bryan Ortiz and Jon Perez netted 22 points.  The Vikings dropped to 7-5 on the season  and will look to get back into the win column on Saturday at Lesley.