WILLIMANTIC, Conn. – Mike Garrow (Terryville) scored 18 of his 21 points in the first half, Joe Ives (Avon) scored 18 of his career-high 25 points in the second half and freshman Trachone Preston (Enfield) scored a career-high 18 points in his second career start to carry the Eastern Connecticut State University men's basketball team to a 95-86 non-conference win over Nichols College Thursday evening at Francis E. Geissler Gymnasium.

Garrow had two buckets, a steal and a defensive rebound in a 10-2 Eastern (5-2) run over 2+ minutes late in the first half to help Eastern break from a 23-all tie on the way to an eight-point, 45-37 lead at halftime. The Warriors' lead crested at 17 on a three-point field goal from Ives midway through the second half.

Trailing by 17 with eight minutes left, Nichols (3-4) used a 15-4 spurt over 3+ minutes to pull as close as six, 82-76, with 4:24 left and had possession of the ball before Garrow nailed a three-point field goal after a missed Nichols free throw, and Preston turned a Bison turnover into a layup on a pass from Ives to push the lead by to 11 with two minutes left.

Kyle Mascilak came off the bench for a game-high 25 points for Nichols, hitting ten of 15 field goals and all four of his free throws. Team scoring leader Ryan Sheehan (28 ppg.)  scored 19 points before fouling out with 11:23 left and his team down by 14.

Ives added six rebounds and six assists to go along with his career-high scoring effort. Brandon Yarborough had a season-high ten points and career-high 16 rebounds for the Warriors, who outrebounded Nichols, 46-23.

The loss was the fourth straight for Nichols.

Eastern visits Rhode Island College Saturday in a 3 p.m. Little East Conference game.