Salisbury, MD – The Regent University Men's Basketball team traveled to Salisbury University Saturday afternoon for their first ever Coast-To-Coast Athletic Conference regular season game. The Royals were able to settle in early and played one for their most complete games of the year as they held a one-point lead inside the final minute. While they would eventually fall by a final score of 72-68, Regent did not fold, taking the game all the way to the final buzzer.
The contest was tight throughout after Salisbury built an early 9-3 lead, but the Royals rallied to pull even late in the first half when Freshman Grant Worley (Chesapeake, VA) buried a three-pointer to tie the game at 33-33 with 3:49 left before the break. Regent carried that momentum into halftime as Worley converted two free throws in the final 90 seconds, sending the Royals into the locker room with the advantage, 36-35. The second half mirrored the first, and Regent's back court helped keep the Royals in position late as Worley led the Royals with 15 points, hitting two 3-pointers and going 7 of 8 at the foul line while adding 2 steals in 32 minutes. Sophomore Chauncey Gilliam (Chesapeake, VA) added 14 points and 4 rebounds, including the late layup that briefly pushed Regent in front. Junior Dorian Tema (Frederick, MD) provided balanced production with 11 points, 5 rebounds, 4 assists and 4 steals in 35 minutes.
The Royals shot efficiently from the field at 24-for-50 and connected on 6 of 16 attempts from beyond the arc, while finishing 14-for-22 at the free-throw line. Defensively, Regent generated pressure, recording 8 steals and forcing 14 Seagull turnovers, while they matched Salisbury with 28 points in the paint and benefited from 26 bench points. In addition, Senior Brendan Goods (Melbourne, FL) directed the offense, allowing the Royals to control most of the game.
Regent will stay on the road as they travel to Fredericksburg on Saturday, January 17th to face the University of Mary Washington. Tip-off is scheduled for 3:00pm.
