HAVERFORD, Pa. - The Haverford College men's basketball team (5-4) dropped a tightly contested 80-77 decision to Nichols (6-4) on Saturday afternoon at Calvin J. Gooding '84 Arena, as the visiting Bison sealed the game at the free-throw line in the final seconds. The matchup featured 10 lead changes and 11 ties, with neither team leading by more than 12 points before Nichols converted the decisive free throws late to secure the three-point victory.
Haverford seized early momentum behind strong perimeter shooting and work on the glass, using a decisive mid-first-half surge to establish control. The Fords rattled off a 16-4 run midway through the opening period, sparked by multiple three-pointers from Tyler Nolan, including a transition triple at the 7:36 mark that pushed the advantage to 26-14. Adam Strong-Jacobson anchored the interior during the stretch, collecting multiple offensive rebounds that extended possessions and fueled the run. Nichols responded late in the half behind the playmaking of Javen Flowers-Smith, who orchestrated a rally with transition baskets and assists to trim the deficit to just one by the break. The Scarlet and Black carried a slim 37-36 lead into halftime after shooting efficiently from beyond the arc and controlling second-chance opportunities.
Haverford gained its first-half edge by establishing an interior presence, scoring 12 points in the paint while creating a 7-2 advantage in second-chance points. Despite committing 10 turnovers, the Fords received 14 points from the bench to maintain the narrow lead. Nichols countered with effective transition play, scoring 10 fast-break points to keep the contest tight at the break.
The second half unfolded as a possession-by-possession battle. Nichols opened the period with a 10-3 run, highlighted by a Luke Chapman three-pointer at the 16:50 mark to take a 46-40 lead. Haverford responded with an 11-1 run of its own, fueled by three-pointers from Raja Coleman, Nolan, and Strong-Jacobson to reclaim a 51-47 advantage. Dominic Mello quickly answered for Nichols, knocking down a three to cut the margin to 51-50 with 12:54 remaining. Momentum continued to swing over the final 10 minutes. Gaven Marr connected on a key three during the stretch, and Nolan added a fast-break triple to give Haverford a 63-60 lead with 7:58 left. Nichols countered each push and eventually took a 78-77 lead when Mello drilled two clutch free throws with 18 seconds remaining. Following a missed shot by Carter Warren, the Bison added two more free throws with 0.6 seconds left to extend the lead to 80-77, capping off a momentum-shifting 9-0 scoring run. Nolan's desperation half-court attempt at the buzzer came up short, as Nichols escaped Gooding '84 Arena with the win.
Haverford battled throughout a seesaw second half, finishing with 14 offensive rebounds and a 14-0 advantage in points in the paint over the final 20 minutes, but eight second-half turnovers proved costly as Nichols capitalized in transition to outscore the Fords 44-40 in the half.
Despite holding a decisive 46-28 rebounding advantage in the contest, the Scarlet and Black came up just short against a talented Nichols squad.
Nolan led Haverford with 17 points, knocking down four three-pointers. Strong-Jacobson recorded his third double-double of the season with 16 points and a game-high 14 rebounds. Warren contributed six points and six assists, while Marr finished with 12 points, two three-pointers, and four rebounds.
Flowers-Smith paced Nichols with a team-high 19 points while adding eight assists and two steals. Mello followed with 17 points, shooting 3-of-5 from three and 8-of-10 at the free-throw line, while grabbing four rebounds. Olivier St. Louis added 10 points, making all eight of his free-throw attempts and recording two blocks. Ethan Minarik chipped in 14 points, hitting four three-pointers on 5-of-8 shooting.
The Fords return to action on New Year's Eve, traveling to Baltimore, Md., to face Goucher on Wednesday, Dec. 31. Tip-off is scheduled for 2 p.m.
