Ajao Records First Double Double as Men's Basketball Defeats Nichols 76-69

Dudley, Mass. – Rebounding and sharp shooting from beyond the arc are a deadly combination and that is exactly what the Nichols College Men's Basketball team ran into in a non-conference matchup against Framingham State Tuesday evening, as the Bison fell to the Rams by a score of 76-69.

Leading the way for Framingham was freshman forward Adeyemi Ajao (Randolph, Mass.), who finished the game with a 19 point, 11 rebound (five offensive) double-double, the first of his career, on a 7-for-11 effort from the field. Senior guard Anthony Pappagallo (Malden, Mass.) added 15 points, including three buckets from beyond the arc.  Figueroa finished the game with 14 points on 6-of-8 shooting from the floor to go along with six boards, while senior Royce Veal (Dorchester, Mass.) added 10.

The Rams shot 47.1% from three point range and out-rebounded the Bison 45-33. But even with the dominance by the Rams at times, Nichols remained in the game right until the finish thanks in large part to freshman Ryan Sheehan (North Attleboro, Mass.), who tied a career-high with 31 points.

Sheehan carried the Bison early, scoring 13 points in the first frame with 11 of them just eight minutes into the game. The game remained fairly close until the last few minutes of the half. After a free throw by freshman Tyrone Figueroa (Revere, Mass.), the Rams had gathered a nine point lead with just over a minute and a half remaining.

The big play of the half came in the closing seconds. With a difference of about four seconds between the shot clock and the game clock, Nichols chose to run the time down. Sophomore Justin Kuntz (Wallingford, Conn.) came through with a three pointer with about nine seconds remaining in the half. The ensuing Framingham inbounds pass was stolen by sophomore Steve Galgano (Ansonia, Conn.) who shot the ball immediately to beat the buzzer and narrow the Framingham lead to 36-32 at the half.

The momentum for the Bison did not carry over and the Rams quickly jumped out to a 12 point lead in the second half. But as was the case in the first half, Sheehan kept the Bison alive. 

Sheehan continued to light up the scoreboard, finishing the game for the Bison with a game-high 31 points. Nichols continued to fight back closing to within one possession at 72-69 with exactly one minute remaining, but Figueroa provided the three point dagger as the shot clock expired with just 26 second left to seal the deal and give the Rams the win.

The Bison will try to pick up their first conference win on Thursday, traveling to Western New England College for a 5:30 p.m. game. Framingham will resume conference play as well at 3:00 p.m. on Saturday, hosting Fitchburg State in a MASCAC game.