BRIDGEWATER, Mass. – Junior Tom Cuddihy (Scituate, Mass.) scored a game-high 28 points and senior Derek Thompson (Hyannis, Mass.) posted his third straight double-double with 18 points and 11 rebounds Thursday night to lead Bridgewater State College to an 82-73 win over Plymouth State University in college men’s basketball action at the Tinsley Center.
The Bears improve to 5-1 as they are off to the program’s best start since the 1998-99 Bears also started 5-1. The Panthers drop to 5-3 on the year.
BSC led most of the way as they took a 45-35 lead into the locker room. The Panthers came out strong to open the second half and cut the Bears lead to only two points at 65-63. Bridgewater responded with five straight points to push the lead up to seven, 70-63, and the Bears maintained at least a five point lead the rest of the way.
Plymouth State, which shot 58 percent from the floor in the first half, connected on just 16-of-45 (36 percent) in the second stanza, including just 4-of-19 from beyond the arc. Bridgewater was able to capitalize at the free throw line as the Bears converted 19-of-28 foul shots, while the Panthers attempted only three free throws in the game.
Senior Devin Ruocco (Dover, N.H.) paced Plymouth State, registering a double-double with 20 points and 10 rebounds. Classmate Mike Walcek (Dover, N.H.) added 15 points, nine rebounds, six assists, and three steals. Freshman Mike Chergey (Bow, N.H.) finished with 17 points, 15 in the second half.
Bridgewater State will have a bit of a layoff as the Bears are not in action until Friday Dec. 29, when they take on Babson College as part of the Surf City Classic hosted by Vanguard University in Costa Mesa, Calif.
Plymouth State returns to the hardwood on Saturday at 3:00 p.m. as they host Little East Conference preseason favorite Rhode Island College in a key match-up.
(Courtesy of Bridgewater State Sports Information)
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