BABSON PARK, Mass.—First-year Thomas Ferdinando (Andover, Mass.) scored 16 of his team-high 21 points in the first half to lead four players in double figures as Babson College rolled to an 89-74 win over visiting Salve Regina University in New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) men's basketball action on Thursday night inside Staake Gymnasium. 

With its sixth consecutive victory, Babson improves to 12-5 overall and takes over sole possession of second place in the conference standings at 6-2. Salve Regina has dropped three of its last four games to slip to 12-5 overall and 5-3 in the NEWMAC. 

Senior Timmy O'Toole (Milton, Mass.) posted his fourth double-double of the season with 16 points and 10 rebounds, while first-year Robby Fiore (Acton, Mass.) made his first four three-pointers and finished with 14 points off the bench to lead the Beavers. Sophomore Timmy Muvley (Reading, Mass.) also knocked down four triples on the way to scoring 12 points and senior Tyler Lauder (Malvern, Pa.) matched his season high with six assists in the victory. 

Junior Pat Spenard (Rochester, Mass.) poured in 21 of his game-high 26 points in the second half to pace the Seahawks. Quinn Burke (Florham Park, N.J.) buried three three-pointers on the way to scoring 12 points, while senior Sean Seymour (Albany, N.Y.) chipped in with 11 points in the loss. 

Up 11-6 nearly six minutes into the contest, the Green and White scored on five of its next seven possessions and got points from four different players to open up a 23-8 cushion at the 9:49 mark. Salve Regina got back-to-back three-pointers from Burke but was unable to keep pace as Ferdinando scored 11 of Babson's next 13 points extending the margin to 36-16 with 5:57 to go before halftime. 

O'Toole and Fiore combined for nine points to make it 48-23 less than two minutes before the break, and the hosts got a three-pointer from Ferdinando and four points apiece from O'Toole and sophomore Logan Murphy (Sandwich, Mass.) as part of an 11-4 run out of the locker room to take their biggest lead of the night at 59-28 with 16:30 to play. The Seahawks responded by scoring on eight of their next nine possessions only to see Fiore counter with a trio of three-pointers to keep the Green and White in front 75-45 with 11:16 remaining. 

Salve Regina cut its deficit below 20 for the first time since late in the first half on two free throws by Spenard with 3:52 remaining while limiting Babson to just two field goals over the final 6:11 to make it respectable late. 

The Beavers shot 52.9 percent in the first half and 48.5 percent for the game while hitting 14 three-pointers and finishing with a 32-24 edge on the glass. The Seahawks shot 65.4 percent in the second half and 54.3 on the night in addition to outscoring the hosts 19-9 at the free throw line.

Babson returns to action on Saturday when it travels to WPI at 2 p.m., while Salve Regina hosts Emerson next Wednesday at 7 p.m. 

GAME NOTES
•    The Beavers are 15-4 all-time against Salve Regina and have won eight in a row at home versus the Seahawks. 
•    Ferdinando's four three-pointers helped him match the Babson freshman record of 56 set by Michael Kingsley '97 in 1993-94 and matched by Mark Giovino '98 in 1994-95.
•    The Green and White is 9-1 this winter when making at least 10 triples and has won 20 consecutive games over the last five seasons when connecting on 13 or more three-pointers. 
•    The Beavers are 11-2 this season when at least three players score in double figures.