Lions finish well and fly past Nighthawks, 76-56

Quincy, MA- Freshman guard Keith Branch (Boston, MA) hits free throws down the stretch as Eastern Nazarene College Lions (3-11) rises above visiting Newbury College Nighthawks (3-8), 76-56, in a non-conference game Thursday night at the Lahue P.E. Center on the campus of ENC.  

Carrying a ten point, 33-23, lead into the second half, the two teams went basket for basket, until the Nighthawks finally broke through with a 6-0 run with twelve minutes left, cutting the lead to, 45-40, and forcing the Lions to call timeout.  Clinging to that five point lead with just under ten minutes to play, ENC's Aaron Johnson (Boston, MA) hit back-to-back three pointers, assisted by Kenny Foster (Nashville, TN), to extend it back to eleven, 51-40. This was as close as the visitors would threaten, as the Lions carried the double digit lead into the final minutes of the game and would benefit from strong defensive play by forcing the Nighthawks into turnover and a shot clock violation to retain the ball and the lead.  

Newbury was forced to intentionally foul with a minute and a half remaining in the game, but Keith Branch (Boston, MA) went 7-7 from the free throw line to ice the lead as ENC collected their third win in four games. 

In a low scoring first half, ENC led Newbury, 13-6, with seven minutes remaining as both teams defense and aggressive play created sixteen fouls within the first fifteen minutes of play.   The Lions teetered back and forth with a double-digit lead.  As the Nighthawks' cut the lead to single digits, the Lions broke the press and "And 1" plays on two separate occasions by Mike McCoy (Altamonte Springs, FL) and Jonathan Georges (Randolph, MA) to extend their lead to 33-23 at halftime. 

Aaron Johnson shined with 16 points, and Keith Branch had 12 points and 9 rebounds as ENC won the battle under the boards, out rebounding Newbury 51-31. 

Timothy Young (Brockton, MA) scored 22 points for the Nighthawks. 

Eastern Nazarene will look for their second conference win this Saturday when they face rival Gordon College at home and Newbury will face Lesley College this Saturday as well.

- Game story submitted by Thomas Newell, Sports Information Director - Eastern Nazarene College

- Game photo provided by Samantha Yanofsky