NEW HAVEN, Conn. - The Albertus Magnus College men's basketball team ended the 2022 portion of their schedule with a thrilling 91-85 home victory over the Bison of Nichols College on Friday evening inside "The Nest", located within the Cosgrove Marcus Messer Athletic Center. 

Antonio Bonilla (Tenafly, N.J.) led all players with 24 points, while Justice Washington (Hamden, Conn.) recorded a double-double with an 18-point, 17-rebound performance. Terry Dawkins (Bronx, N.Y.) and Tazhon Daniels (New Haven, Conn.) also chimed in with 12 and 11 points, respectively.      

THE BASICS
Final: Albertus Magnus 91 | Nichols 85 
Records: Albertus Magnus (3-6) | Nichols (6-4)
Box Score

HOW IT HAPPENED

• Tonight's game started off tightly contested as both teams stayed within three points of each other for the opening 4:30. 
• The game stayed close over the next three-and-a-half minutes until the Bison put together a 9-0 run to build a 32-21 advantage at the 10:26 mark of the first half. 
• Albertus answered by scoring the next six points to cut the deficit to five, 32-27, with 9:23 left in the half. 
• Dawkins started the Albertus run with a strong and-1 layup at the 10:06 mark. 
• Nichols rebuilt its lead to double-figures, 39-29, with 7:51 left in the half before the Falcons again answered. 
• AMC retaliated with an 8-0 push which was capped by an emphatic two-hand slam by Tashawn Tokley (Merchantville, N.J.) at the 5:32 mark. 

• The two teams stayed within two points of each other for the remainder of the half, as the Bison held a 47-45 advantage at the break. 
• Albertus came out in the second half on fire, making its first five shots to storm head 57-49 by the 17:22 mark.
• Bonilla commanded the early run with two 3-pointers and a jumper. 

• The Bison made a dent in AMC's lead until the Falcons tallied its first double-digit advantage, 65-55, of the night at the 13:10 mark following a Washington dunk. 

• Albertus found itself ahead by a game-high 14 points, 71-57, after a 6-2 run that was capped off by two Bonilla free throws at the 11:03 mark. 
• From that point, Nichols put on the pressure by scoring 11 of the next 13 points to cut its deficit to five, 73-68, with 8:21 remaining. 
• The Falcons maintained at least a two-point lead until a Matthew Alectus trey brought the visitors within one, 79-78, with 4:06 to go. 
• Albertus answered with a Bonilla triple and a Washinton two-pointer to balloon its advantage back to six, 84-78, with 2:48 remaining. 
• AMC held Nichols at bay over the final 2:48 to secure the challenging non-conference victory at home to bring an end to its 2022 slate.

TEAM STATS
Albertus: 51.5% FG | 43.8% 3PT | 63.6% FT
Nichols:44.4% FG | 26.7% 3PT | 56.7% FT

PLAYER HIGHLIGHTS

Albertus:
Antonio Bonilla- 24 points (8-14 FG, 5-9 3PT, 3-4 FT) | 1 rebound
Justice Washington - 18 points (9-10 FG) | 17 rebounds | 2 blocks 
Terry Dawkins - 12 points (5-10 FG, 2-3 FT) | 8 rebounds | 3 assists | 1 steal
Tazhon Daniels - 11 points (4-6 FG, 2-2 3PT, 1-4 FT) | 4 rebounds | 1 assist | 1 steal

Nichols:
Matthew Alectus - 20 points (6-14 FG, 2-5 3PT, 6-8 FT) | 13 rebounds | 2 assists | 3 blocks
Tavon Jones- 19 points (8-14 FG, 0-2 3PT, 3-5 FT) | 3 rebounds | 2 steals
Jakigh Dottin- 19 points (8-17 FG, 1-2 3PT, 2-5 FT) | 6 rebounds | 4 assists | 4 steals

NOTEWORTHY

• With tonight's victory, the Falcons improve to 3-2 all-time against the Bison. 
• Tonight's game had six ties and four lead changes. 
• Albertus registered a season-high in assists with 19 and rebounds with 54. 
• Bonilla's 24 points was a season-high for the junior guard. 
• Washington also recorded season-highs in tonight's contest with 18 points and 17 rebounds. 
• Washington posted his second double-double of the season. 
• With tonight's 12-point performance, Dawkins has amassed 941 career points and is 59 points away from becoming the 19th player in program history to join the 1000-point club.   
• Daniels netted his third double-digit performance of the season. 

UP NEXT
The Falcons return to the court on Tuesday, Jan. 3, to challenge Great Northeast Athletic Conference foe Colby-Sawyer College. Tip-off is set for 7:30 PM inside the Cosgrove Marcus Messer Athletic Center in New Haven, Conn.