Onyechi Powers Pilgrims Past Amcats Men’s Basketball

Anna Maria would control the tempo early jumping out to an eight point lead up 24-16 with 12:50 remaining in the first.  NEC would use a 12-3 run to claw their way back and take their first lead of the game up 28-27 midway through the half.  The Pilgrims would lead by as many as seven but the Amcats would outscore NEC 9-1 in the final 1:27 of the half to head into intermission up 57-50.
 
The two teams would exchange baskets numerous times in the opening minutes of the second half but Anna Maria would use two straight buckets to build their lead to 75-65 at the 12:20 mark.  The Pilgrims wouldn’t give up as NEC would tie the game at 79-79 with 9:42 remaining in regulation and grab their first lead of the half up 84-83 with 6:18 on the clock.  The two teams would battle back-and-forth as the Pilgrims would grab the 94-92 lead on an Onyechi layup with just under a minute remaining.  NEC’s Shane Hennessey (Cornwall, England) would convert on two foul shots with 10 second remaining to give the Pilgrims some breathing room up 96-92.  Anna Maria’s Quincy Nunnally (Westboro, Mass.) would hit a final three-pointer as time would expire but the Amcats would come up short as the Pilgrims would capture the 96-95 victory.
 
In addition to Onyechi, the Pilgrims were led by Shane Hennessey who finished with 18 points and a career-high 20 rebounds.  NEC’s Ryan Jaziri (Norwich, Conn.) finished with 20 points and Bridell Thomas (Hamden, Conn.) chipped in 11 for the Pilgrims.
 
Leading the way for Anna Maria College was Junior DeLaHoz (Lawrence, Mass.) who finished with 16 points and dished out 10 assists.  AMC’s Quincy Nunnally finished with 19 points and grabbed a team-high 12 rebounds, while Chris Pinsonault (Marlboro, Mass.) finished with 19 points as well.