Nick Nickle earns SPARTAN SHOP Athlete of the Week after breaking the NCC career record for 3-pointers made. Nickle has 96 career threes, eclipsing the mark of 93 previously held by Tanner Duncan. Sophomore Nick Nickle knocked down four 3-pointers to establish a new NCC career record, but it wasn't enough as Bergen used a strong second half from Maynard Freeman to earn an 80-71 victory on Saturday afternoon.
Nickle, who finished with 15 points, broke the NCC career record for 3-pointers early in the game when he knocked down his second trey and finished with four trifectas, giving him 96 for his career, eclipsing the mark of 93 set by Tanner Duncan (2005-07).
Freeman scored 16 of his 21 points in the second half as the Bulldogs pulled away from a 36-36 halftime deadlock to pick up the conference victory.
"Turnovers and defensive lapses ..." stated NCC Head Coach Kevin Foley, "too many of both of them ... we continue to play hard, but our decision-making and focus continue to lack at times."
All-Region candidate Ralph Padilla scored 16 points, as did freshman Jaylonn Tullis, to lead Northampton.
The Spartans fall to 9-17 overall and 8-15 in Region XIX.
Bergen improves to 8-16 overall and 7-14 in Region XIX.
Northampton closes out their season on Tuesday when they host Middlesex County College at 7pm.
BETHLEHEM, Pa. - From Orlando, Florida, to Herkimer, New York, to Bethlehem, Pennsylvania... Nick Nickle's career has taken a long and winding road to get to Northampton, but the sophomore shooting guard has made the most of his opportunity and now stands just one 3-pointer away from setting the career record at NCC.Nickle was a vital member of last season's 21-9 team which advanced to the Region XIX Final Four before falling to eventual champion Ocean County College. Nickle appeared in 29 games, knocking down 27 treys and scoring 123 points in his role off the bench.This season Nickle has blossomed into a major offensive factor for the Spartans, averaging 13 points per game (which ranks 3rd on the team) and almost 2 assists per night. Nickle has knocked down 64 3-pointers this season (with two games to play), which ranks third in NCC history behind Kerreshe Daily's 89 in 2002-03 and Tom Wesner's 73 during the 1999-00 campaign.
Nickle knocked down 7 trifectas in a game earlier this season vs. Atlantic Cape Community College and has three games with five.
"Nick can shoot it," remarked Head Coach Kevin Foley, "when he gets in a zone, he can knock it down with the best of them ... it has really been a pleasure having Nick on the team the last two years and watching him develop as a player."
Nickle's career total currently stands at 92 made 3-pointers, one behind career leader Tanner Duncan who had 93 treys during his career from 2005-07.
Nickle will get his first attempt at the record on Saturday when the Spartans host Bergen Community College at 2pm.
Nick Nickle earns SPARTAN SHOP Athlete of the Week after breaking the NCC career record for 3-pointers made. Nickle has 96 career threes, eclipsing the mark of 93 previously held by Tanner Duncan. Sophomore Nick Nickle knocked down four 3-pointers to establish a new NCC career record, but it wasn't enough as Bergen used a strong second half from Maynard Freeman to earn an 80-71 victory on Saturday afternoon.
