Franklin, MASS.- In their final regular season game of the 2016-17 season, the Dean College Bulldogs controlled the game from start to finish, racing past Mass Bay CC 96-71 in front of a packed Pieri Gym crowd on Tuesday night.

The Bulldogs registered their fourth straight win.  They ended the regular season winning 7 of their last 9 contests.  Dean now waits for the USCAA selection committee to determine if the Bulldogs qualify for the postseason.  The decision will be made next Monday.

Dean raced out to a quick 10-2 start thanks to two 3 pointers from Aziz Gilliam and a triple from Jaquan James.  James and Gilliam, the Bulldogs two seniors, were honored in pregame ceremony for senior night.  

A dunk and a layup on successive possesions from Naquwan Solomon stretched the Dean lead back to 6 after Mass Bay had trimmed the gap early in the first frame.

Two minutes later, a three pointer from Kyle Jimenez-Fox tied the game at 16, and a layup from Raheem McCoy gave Mass Bay the lead at 18-16 with just over 13 minutes remaining in the first half.

Dean responded.  Kendall Hamilton scored for Dean on 5 straight possesions, the last one being a 3 pointer that pushed the Dean lead to 35-25.  The Bulldogs used a 24-9 run to vanguish Mass Bay's slim lead and put themselves in the driver's seat at 40-27 with 6 minutes left in the half.

Dean went into the halftime break leading 50-39.

Leading by 15 midway through the 2nd half, the Bulldogs ripped off a 15-4 run that gave them a commanding 80-54 lead.  Capped by two fastbreak layups from Randolph Thurman, the Bulldogs were able to put the game out of reach for good.

Head Coach Rico Cabral was pleased with Dean's effort.  He said, "I thought as a group we played well, against a good team.  The thing I was most happy about was that we won our last home game, especially for the seniors, Gilliam and James.   It's always good when you win and everybody plays.  It makes the game a lot more meaningful." 

Solomon led Dean with 18 points, 13 rebounds and 6 blocks.  Gilliam scored 16 and had 7 boards and 4 assists.  Dayvon Russell scored 14 off the bench, Hamilton had 11, Justin White and Thurman both scored 7.  Josh Croskey had 6 points, 9 rebounds, and 4 assists coming off the bench, as well.  

Mass Bay was led by 20 points from Zach Lebowitz.  Collin Myers had 16 and Kameron Jimenez- Fox had 14 points and 8 boards.

Dean will wait to hear from the USCAA selection committee on Monday. 

Mass Bay hosts Northern Essex Community College on Thursday at 7:00 PM