BOSTON – Suffolk men's basketball and Gordon put on a true barn burner Wednesday night at Larry E. and Michael S. Smith Court. The Fighting Scots' bucket from behind-the-arc with just over one minutes remaining in regulation was the catalyst to the Rams' 84-82 demise.  

THE BASICS
SCORE: Suffolk 82 | Gordon 84
RECORDS: Suffolk (5-2) | Gordon (5-2)  

HOW IT HAPPENED
Gordon played an up-tempo, in your face game style, pressing the Rams after every made hoop, and the Fighting Scots put away quite a few. The full-court press did not slow down Suffolk, who exchanged the lead with the visitors 11 times in the first 18 minutes before the blue-and-gold's seniors took over.  

Brendan Mulson put Suffolk ahead 40-39. That advantage exchange would be the last of the first frame as Nate Hale heated up from downtown. The guard from Nashua, New Hampshire converted on three straight triples to push the distance to, 49-39, with 12.6 seconds left before half time. Gordon used a timeout in an attempt to slice the deficit back down on its final possession, however, the Rams defense stood tall and kept the 10-point margin intact at the break.  

The team's traded points out of intermission. Despite the back-and-forth, Suffolk held onto its 10-point advantage, 58-48, 4:10 into the second stanza. Over the next 1:34, the Fighting Scots fired back with nine unanswered points to chip the gap down to one, 58-57.  

Jeff Juron used a timeout to calm the blue-and-gold down, however, Gordon gained momentum out of the huddle instead and flipped the script in its favor on its next possession. The same story of the first frame ensued as the lead changed three more times before the score locked at 68-all with 8:30 left on the clock.  

Conor Creane broke the knotted score up with his fifth long ball of the night to put Suffolk up three. The Rams could not rally behind the sophomore's personal-best bucket, however, and more see-saw action followed. 

After Hale hit back-to-back buckets to give Suffolk a 77-75 edge, Drew Thibeault buried the ball from downtown to flip the script in the Fighting Scots' favor, 78-77, with 3:57 to play.  

That score stayed put for the next 1:50 until Mulson was sent to the charity stripe. The senior made the first to tie it and swished the second for the go-ahead hoop.  

Gordon's response came in the form of a falling-down three from Josh Crutchfield at the 1:40 minute mark. That bucket was the 20th lead change of the outing and would be the final time it would switch. 

Suffolk had three chances on its next possession to gain control, but missed each opportunity.  The Rams gambled with the foul game and it looked to pay off as Josh Crutchfield went 1-for-2 at the line to keep it a one-possession ball game.  

Alex Jacovides game-tying try from behind-the-arc was off the mark and this time Michael Makiej made the hosts pay for sending him to the free throw line to extend the hole to five, 84-79, with 15 seconds to go.  

Mulson chucked up a three with 10 seconds that back rimmed and the Rams fought for the offensive board, which landed in its favor after a scuffle down low. From a Suffolk timeout, Muslon caught and shot another three, this time the Albany, New York connected to cut the gap to two with 2.1 seconds remaining.  

Immediately on the inbound Mulson fouled Crutchfield. The Fighting Scot's free throw was off the mark, but time ran out on the Rams' comeback.  

STATISTICALLY SPEAKING

• Suffolk saw four players in double figures led by a game-high 24 from Hale. He shot 9-for-16 from the floor and 4-for-5 from beyond-the-arc to go along with seven caroms, five steals, two assists, and one swat. 
• Mulson provided 16 points on a 6-for-17 showing with seven boards, four dimes and three blocks. 
• Creane contributed 15 points, all of which came off threes with a 5-for-9 showing from three-point land. The Rams' reserve added three rebounds and two takeaways.
• Rowe recorded 16-rebound, 10-point double-double. 
• Suffolk won the battle on the glass, 47-42.   

NOTEWORTHY

• Suffolk and Gordon renewed a rivalry, meeting for the first time since Nov. 16, 1990. 
• Suffolk took on Gordon for the first time in the Jeff Juron era. 
• Creane notched a personal-best three-point field goals made with five. 
• Rowe produced his second straight double-double, the second double-double of his collegiate career. 
• Rowe registered a career-high 16 rebounds. 
• Mulson had a career-high three blocks. 
• Hale notched a personal-best five steals.  

POST-GAME PIC
  

SUFFOLK'S SCHEDULE
Suffolk concludes its 2020-21 abbreviated season tomorrow, Thursday, March 25 when it travels to Wenham, Massachusetts for a rematch with the Fighting Scots. Tip-off of the Rams' season finale is set for 7:00 p.m.