NEWPORT, R.I. - Senior Rodney Morton (Malden, Mass.) led all players in scoring with 18 points and led Salve Regina University men's basketball to a 76-57 victory over Curry College in Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) action at the Rodgers Recreation Center. Morton had made just one of his first 10 field goal attempts, before finishing strong with five of six from the floor including two 3-pointers. Freshman Kevin Kelly (Valhalla, N.Y.) chipped in a dozen points in 24 minutes on six of nine from the floor while sophomore Gabe Granberry (Dorchester, Mass.) came off the bench to add 10 points (five of seven in field goals). Sophomore Andrew Bronstein (Needham, Mass.) dished out seven assists.
Series and Streaks
The Seahawks lead the all-time series, 36-26, and have won the last five meetings. Salve Regina improves to 5-0 in home games this season.
Three Stars of the Game
Salve Regina senior Rodney Morton (Malden, Mass.) scored a game-high 18 points with 14 coming in the final 20 minutes. He was four-for-four from the free-throw line.
Salve Regina sophomore Gabe Granberry (Dorchester, Mass.) scored 10 points and grabbed seven rebounds in 12 minutes. He also dished three assists and made one steal.
Salve Regina freshman Kevin Kelly (Valhalla, N.Y.) had the second-most points in the game (12) with an efficient six of nine from the floor.
Key Stat of the Game
While Curry drained seven treys to Salve Regina's four, the Seahawks outscored the Colonels, 46-26, in the paint.
Turning Point
Tied 37-37 (the fifth deadlock of the game) with 17:22 on the clock in the second half, Salve Regina went on a 16-0 run in just over four minutes. Junior Isaiah Bowman (Roxbury, Mass.) led the Seahawks with nine points (two 3-pointers) during the run. After a Justin Kelley (Medford, Mass.) 3-pointer interrupted the run, the Seahawks had another 11-0 spurt to open up a 24-point lead. Kevin Mannix (Barrington, R.I.) had a jumper and layup while Kevin Kelly had a fastbreak dunk; J-T Mullins (East Lyme, Conn.) hit one of his two field goals a the eight-minute mark. An old-fashioned three-point play by Rodney Morton at 2:05 in period gave Salve Regina its largest lead, 76-47.
Quick Hits
10 different Colonels scored points but none were in double figures; Kieran Carroll (Greenwich, Conn.) led Curry with nine points.
Both teams had productive benches - Curry (26 points), Salve Regina (27 points).
Kevin Mannix led all players with nine rebounds; Seahawks had 11 more boards than the Colonels, 43-32.
The score was tied five times and there were four lead changes.
Salve Regina shot nearly 50 percent from the floor ... 32 of 65 (49.2 percent).
Next Up
Salve Regina (6-5, 3-1 CCC) hosts University of New England on Saturday, January 6, at 3 p.m.; Curry (1-9, 0-4 CCC) returns home to face Roger Williams University in a 3 p.m. tip off in Milton, Mass. on Saturday.
(Game Recap Courtesy of Salve Regina University Sports Information)