DUDLEY, Mass. – Behind its trio of seniors – Nate Hall, Alex Jacovides and Brendan Mulson – Suffolk men's basketball started the 2020-21 condensed campaign in the win column with a 97-84 victory at Nichols Friday night at the Nichols Athletic Center. The three members of the Class of 2021 were responsible for 67 of the Rams' total points. 

THE BASICS
SCORE: Suffolk 97 | Nichols 84
RECORDS: Suffolk (1-0) | Nichols (0-1)  

HOW IT HAPPENED
It was a true one-possession ball game through the first four minutes until Nichols rallied around a 9-5 run to take an eight-point lead, 25-17, with 11:59 left on the clock in the first frame. Suffolk inched back slowly and gained its first lead of the day on a Mulson make with 3:04 to play before intermission.  

The lead exchanged five times from there before John Gates buried a long ball three seconds before the buzzer singled half time to send the blue-and-gold into the break ahead 43-40.  

Out of the locker room Suffolk attempted to build on its lead and did so, outscoring the hosts 12-4, to make it a double-digit distance, 55-44, at the 16:00 minute mark. Over the next four minutes, momentum shifted in Nichols favor as the Bison pulled back within three, 60-57.  

Hale hit a three to jump start another Suffolk spurt, but that was short lived as see-saw action led to three lead changes. The last came at 8:15 when Sullivan knocked down a triple. 

The Rams remained in front from there stretching the margin to as many as 16, 92-76, when William Rowe connect on a lay-up with 2:28 remaining in the contest. Nichols never caught up and the blue-and-gold coasted to the 97-84 decision.  

STATISTICALLY SPEAKING

• Hale's performance was strictly offense with a game-high 34 points on a 12-for-21 effort, which included a 6-for-12 showing from three-point land. The senior added three dimes, two blocks and one steal. 
• Mulson contributed 21 points, eight boards, four handouts, three takeaways, and one block. 
• Jacovides supplied a double-double effort of 13 rebounds and 12 points to go along with one assist, one block and one steal. 
• Rowe registered eight points and John Gates matched that offensive output in his Suffolk debut.  

NOTEWORTHY

• Suffolk improved to 24-29 in the first game of the year. 
• The Rams won their fourth straight season opener. 
• Game one is a road battle under Juron's leadership for just the second time, first since 2016-17. 
• The blue-and-gold improved to 4-2 in game one in the Jeff Juron era.
• Suffolk won its first season opener with Juron on the bench.  
• Suffolk moved to 6-11 when playing a true road contest in its season opener. 
• The Rams opened their campaign away from home for the second straight season with its first true road tilt since 2016-17. 
• Suffolk renewed a rivalry with Nichols, meeting for the first time since December 10, 2009. 
• The Rams snapped a three-game skid against the Bison, defeating Nichols for the first time since Jan. 27, 1998. 
• Suffolk met Nichols for the first time under Juron's guidance. 
• Hale set careers highs in points (34), field goals made (12), three-point field goals made (6) and blocks (2). 
• Jacovides produced his first collegiate double-double. 
• Sullivan notched personal-bests in field goals made (2), points (7), rebounds (3), steals (3) and blocks (1) in his first collegiate start. 
• Ismail Fofana's three-caroms were a personal-high.  

POST-GAME PIC
  

SUFFOLK'S SCHEDULE
Suffolk Athletics will continue to release its winter sports schedule on a week-by-week basis. Fans are encouraged to check GoSuffolkRams.com every week on Tuesday afternoons when the next batch of games will be unveiled.