MILTON, Mass. (courtesy Curry College sports information) -- Sophomore guard Vytas Kriskus (Kvedarna, Lithuania/Holderness School) scored a career-high 26 points in 25 minutes off the bench, while senior Terrell Hollins (Springfield, Mass./Longmeadow) had 12 points and 11 rebounds as the 13th-ranked Brandeis University men's basketball team defeated host Curry College, 74-69, tonight, holding off a late charge by the Colonels. Brandeis (8-1) extended its winning streak to six, while Curry (3-7) saw its three-game winning streak snapped.
The teams battled back and forth in the first half before Brandeis took the lead for good at 6:52 after a pair of free throws by Hollins made the score 25-24. The visitors went on to open up a 46-34 edge at halftime.
The Judges took their largest lead of the game at 15:44 of the second frame when Kriskus drained a 3-pointer that gave his team a 56-38 advantage. Curry fought back to close the deficit to three, 72-69, after a layup, a foul and free-throw shot by junior center Rodney Bennett (Mattapan, Mass.) with 16 seconds left in regulation. But a pair of free throws by senior guard Andre Roberson (Springfield, Mass./Wilbraham and Monson) with seven seconds remaining clinched the victory for Brandeis.
Kriskus led the Judges in scoring with a game-high and career-high 26 points. Hollins was the only other Brandeis player in double figures with 12 points. Hollins was also the Judges' high rebounder with 11.
Senior captain Mark Mastrullo (Billerica, Mass.) led the Colonels with 22 points, including seven three-pointers. Senior captain Phillipe Jourdain (Cambridge, Mass.) also scored in double figures with 20. Bennett led the Colonels in rebounding with 10.
Brandeis travels to New York University on January 9 for their University Athletic Association opener, a 4:00 p.m. contest. Curry resumes action on January 9 at Western New England College at 3:00 p.m.