Newport, R.I. – January 6, 2024 – The Springfield College men's basketball team fell to Salve Regina University, 73-57, in a New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) matchup inside Rodgers Recreation Center on Saturday afternoon.

Salve Regina improved to 8-5 overall and to 2-2 in NEWMAC play, while Springfield fell to 4-8, 1-2.

Graduate student Joe Hoch (South Ozone Park, N.Y.) led the way for Springfield with 16 points, nine rebounds and three steals, while sophomore John Paulino (New Bedford, Mass.) notched 15 points, five assists, two boards and a pair of steals. Clay Brochu paced the Seahawks with an 11 point, 11 rebound double-double.

Both teams traded baskets over the opening three minutes of the game before a three point bucket from Declan Walmsley gave Salve Regina a 9-6 edge, a lead the hosts would not relinquish for the remainder of the contest. The Seahawks put together a 13-3 run over a span of 6:39 to push their lead to ten at 19-9. Springfield answered and was able to cut its deficit to just four points at 25-21 with 4:59 to play in the first following a layup from Blische, but Salve Regina scored ten of the final 15 points of the half for a 35-26 margin at the break.

A pair of free throws from Blisch made it a seven point game at 42-35 with 14:51 remaining in regulation, but Salve Regina answered again with a 17-3 run to give the hosts its largest lead of the game of 21 points at 59-38. Springfield didn't get closer than 12 points as Salve Regina defeated the Pride by a 73-57 final.

Springfield scored 26 points in the paint and notched 21 points off 15 Salve Regina turnovers.

The Pride will return home for a NEWMAC matchup with Babson College on Tuesday, January 9 at 12:00 pm inside Blake Arena.

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