SPRINGFIELD, Mass. - Nick DeFeo knocked down eight three-pointers for a game-high 24 points to lead the Western New England University men's basketball team past Curry College, 65-56, at the Alumni Healthful Living Center field house, in a Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) matchup.

Sophomore Mike Gelineau added 18 points and senior Musa Elsir chipped in 11. Junior Zack Askew notched six points and pulled down 11 rebounds.

Senior Antonio Jones—the CCC's leading scorer—scored a team-high 21 points for the Colonels and dished out five assists. Classmate Matt Russell recorded a double-double with 12 points and a game-high 13 rebounds. Sophomore James Pina chipped in with 11 points.

Curry came out in a zone trap, which kept the Golden Bears' scorers out of the paint, and made them chuck up long three-pointers. The Colonels' effort on defense transferred over to the offensive side, resulting in a 15-6 run.

With 1:55 left in the half, DeFeo pulled up from downtown again and hit, extending the Golden Bears' lead 30-24. But it didn't end there for DeFeo, with 49 seconds left on the clock, Luis Agrait found him up top, where he dropped his sixth three of the half. DeFeo had 18 first-half points. The Golden Bears closed out the first half on top, 35-26, recovering from a nine-point deficit.

DeFeo nailed another trey to give the Golden Bears a 20-point lead with just under 13 minutes left in the game.

Curry cut the Golden Bears' lead to six with one minute remaining, but Gelineau sank a three with 23 seconds remaining to seal the game at 65-56.  

The Golden Bears shot 41.4 percent from the field, knocking down 24-of-58 shots, while Curry went 21-for-52, resulting in 39.6 percent.

The Golden Bears will face off against Gordon on Tuesday at home, in another CCC matchup. The Colonels return home to host Nichols on Tuesday in a league contest beginning at 7:30 p.m.