SPRINGFIELD, Mass. – Junior guard Damon Alston (New Britain, CT) led four players in double figures with 19 points as the Western New England men’s basketball team kept its playoff hopes alive with an exciting 71-70 victory over Curry Wednesday evening at the Alumni Healthful Living Center (AHLC).
 
The Golden Bears improved their record to 8-14 and 5-10 in the Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC). The Colonels, who entered the contest tied for third in the conference, fell to 10-12 and 8-7 in CCC play.
 
Western New England received a pair of double-double performances from sophomore forwards Dennis Rinaldi (Harrison, NY) (17 points, 10 rebounds) and Daniel Minto (12 points, 12 rebounds). Senior guard Andrew Shaw (New York, NY) contributed 14 points and four rebounds before fouling out.
 
Western New England used a fast start to take a 36-26 advantage at halftime, before the Colonels rallied behind junior guard (and UMass transfer) Sedale Jones (Pittsfield, MA) who netted 24 of his game-high 30 points in the final half.
 
The Golden Bears enjoyed their biggest lead at 40-26 following a layup by Rinaldi with 18:13 to play. WNE took its final double digit lead at 49-39 when Shaw made two free throws at the 13:46 mark.
 
Curry came back getting within two twice before taking their only lead of the game (59-58) when Jones drained a long three-pointer with 4:44 left.
 
Western New England took a 67-62 edge when Alston fired in a three-pointer from the corner with the shot clock winding down with 2:31 remaining.
 
Senior guard Michael Connery (Narragansett, RI) made two straight baskets to get the visitors within 67-66 with 47.7 seconds to play before Minto sank two charity shots at the 21.3 second-mark.
 
Jones, who was 10-for-12 from the line, made only one of two foul shots with 13.5 seconds remaining and Alston converted both of his charity tosses with 11 seconds left for a four-point advantage.
 
Jones then missed a layup before sophomore guard Lambros Papalambros (Quincy, MA) netted a long three-pointer with 0.9 seconds to go.
 
Junior guard Eric Guglielmello (Paxton, MA) added 10 points off the bench for the Colonels while Papalambros finished with eight points and five rebounds.
 
Sophomore guard Ryan Mickiewicz (East Longmeadow, MA) chipped-in with five points and five assists for the Golden Bears.
 
Western New England shot 50.0% from the floor compared to 40.9% for Curry. (Recap courtesy of WNE Sports Information)