Endicott opens season with 74-62 win over Framingham State at Rivier Tip-Off

NASHUA, N.H. – The 2012-13 Endicott men's basketball season began with a victory as the Gulls defeated Framingham State 74-62 on day one of the Rivier Tip-Off Tournament, advancing into championship game to be played on Saturday, November 17^th at 2:00 pm against the host Rivier Raiders in Nashua, New Hampshire. 

The Gulls saw a 13-point halftime lead dwindle down to just to two with under eight minutes remaining in the game, but 9-2 run over a 2:00 span late in the game help Endicott regain control of the game en route to a season opening win over the Rams.  Endicott improved to 8-3 versus Framingham State all-time, including victories in their last four meetings dating back to the 2004 season. 

The Gulls saw all five of their starters score in double figures with sophomore forward Andre Makris (Southbury, Conn.) totaling a game-high 15 points on 7-of-12 from the floor with four rebounds, a block, a steal, and an assist. 

Senior guard Lance Greene (Dorchester, Mass) and sophomore guard John Henault (Lunenburg, Mass.) both dropped 14 points and were integral in Endicott's late game surge.  Greene scored eight of his 14 points in the final eight minutes of the game and Henault drained two critical three-pointers to help gain separation down the stretch. 

Junior forward Lachlan Magee (Melbourne, Australia) added 13 points, five boards, one assist and one steal in the win.  Fellow junior Tyler Burkhart (Cromwell, Conn.) scored all 11 of his points in the first half to help the Gulls to a double-digit lead after 20 minutes.

For the Rams, two players finished in double figures with junior forward Elijah Chisholm (East Boston, Mass.) and junior forward Yemi Ajao (Randolph, Mass.) tallying 13 and 12 points, respectively.  Three-point makes by Chisholm and freshman guard Saleek Marshall (Avon, Mass.) as well as the low post presence from freshman forward Tim Sheridan (Rutland, Wash.) were critical in Framingham State's comeback bid.

Endicott opened up the first half on a 15-2 run that included a 3-of-4 3PT stretch with makes by Burkhart, Henault, and Makris.  The Rams overcame their early game struggles to go into a timeout with 7:50 remaining in the first half down 21-11 points.  Burkhart, who finished with a team-high 11 points in the opening stanza, came out of the timeout and scored eight of Endicott's next 10 points to send the Blue and Green into half with a 31-18 advantage. 

Burkhart was 4-of-8 from the field, including 2-of-6 from beyond the arc, with three assists and two steals in 15 first half minutes.  Makris scored nine on 4-of-9 shooting with three rebounds.  Henault rebounded well, with three boards on both the offensive and defensive glass. 

Framingham State was led in the first half by a six-point effort by Ajao who added two rebounds, two assists, and a steal to his first half game.  Patrick Cuff (Medway, Mass.) contributed with four points, five rebounds, and a block. 

In the second half, the Gulls maintained a double digit lead until a jumper by Marshall with 13:12 on the clock kick started a 9-2 run to pull the Rams to within three points.  A three-pointer by Endicott freshman Nick Mazzotta (North Granby, Conn.) put Endicott up by seven points but layup by Cuff and a three-ball by Marshall cut the Gulls advantage down to only two with 7:37 remaining in regulation. 

Up 53-51 with 6:24 to go, Endicott regained control of the game thanks to an 8-of-9 team shooting effort down the stretch.  Greene led the charge with four of those baskets over a span of just over three minutes. 

Framingham State held a 37-24 rebounding advantage, but the Rams committed 19 turnovers to just 11 for Endicott.  Endicott converted those turnovers in 27 points in the win.  Framingham State's bench was effective, scoring 27 of the team's 62 points.

The Gulls had 18 assists as a team on 30 made baskets with Burkhart totaling a game-high six assists.  Henault and Greene added five and four assists, respectively.