WENHAM, Mass.—Nichols sophomore Marcos Echevarria (Lynn, Mass.) hit a running jumper as time expired to send the Bison to an 85-84 win over Gordon on Tuesday evening at the Bennett Athletic Center. In a matchup of two Commonwealth Coast Conference unbeatens, Nichols was able to erase a double-digit lead in the second half to hand Gordon its first league loss of the season and third straight overall.

The Fighting Scots dip to 6-5 overall and 3-1 in the conference, while Nichols improves to 9-2 and 4-0 respectively.  

Gordon was the sharper team out of the chute, putting 26 points on the board over the first quarter of regulation while holding its opponents to only 14. The sharpshooting Bison struggled from deep in the first half, making just three of their 16 attempts, which led to empty possessions and Gordon's large advantage.

However, Nichols' defensive pressure began to get to the Scots and forcing easy opportunities back the other way for the Bison. Trailing 29-18 with under nine to go in the first half, Nichols went on a 13-2 run in just five minutes of play to tie the game for the first time since 7-7. The Bison took a brief lead at 33-32, but Gordon was able to grow its advantage back to three points by the first horn.

The Fighting Scots came out shooting in the second half the same way as they did in the first, quickly ballooning its lead to 12 points just four minutes into the period. Gordon's lead bounced between nine and 13 points for the next five minutes when the Bison erased the momentum in a hurry. Nichols went on an 11-0 run in just two minutes' time to tie the game at 64 with full-court pressure again causing issues in the Gordon backcourt.

Unlike in the first half, the deep ball was a friend to the Bison. After Gordon reclaimed a five-point lead, Nichols made three consecutive threes to take its largest lead of the game at 75-71 with under five to go. The Scots tied the game back at 75 only to have Echevarria hit a shot from way downtown to give Nichols back the lead.

Not to be outdone, Gordon countered with seven straight points in a minute to make it an 82-78 game with 1:15 left on the clock. A series of unfortunate bounces for the Scots gave Nichols three opportunities to put points on the board on one possession and DeAnte Bruton (New London, Conn.) made the Scots pay with a three ball on the third shot attempt. The Bison stole the ball on the impending Gordon possession, which sent Echevarria to the line for two free throws with 19 ticks left. The sophomore nailed both to swing momentum back in Nichols' favor only to have Gordon's Garrisson Duvivier (Brockton, Mass.) get fouled and convert both shots to give the Scots back the one-point lead.

Echevarria was the only Nichols player to touch the ball with time dwindling on the clock. The heady guard was able to make it to the right of the key and danced his way through a pair of defenders to put up the last-second attempt. The jumper fell through the net as the red lights appeared on the backboard to give Nichols the win.

The Nichols sophomore led all players with 25 points, while adding a team-high five boards. Bruton was efficient as well with 22 points and six assists. The two players combined for more than 50 percent of the team's scoring.

Duvivier finished a rebound short of a double-double with 23 points and nine boards, while adding three blocks and four assists. Eric Demers (Acushnet, Mass.) made half of his attempts for 19 points and four assists, while adding a team-high two steals. Sam Johnson (Chatham, Mass.) was back in double-double territory with 13 points and 14 rebounds. He also had a team-high four blocks.

Gordon will look to snap its skid when it travels across town to play Endicott (9-2, 4-0 CCC) on Thursday.