Dudley, Mass. – Travis Curley (Trumbull, Conn.) erupted for a game-high 23 points – including five three-pointers as visiting Clark University knocked off Worcester-area rival Nichols College 71-64 in non-league men's basketball action on Tuesday evening.

The win for the Cougars snaps a brief two-game losing streak and sees their record jump to 4-2, while the Bison have now lost three straight to fall to 3-3.

Clark raced out to a 9-0 lead behind five points from D.J. Bailey (Palmer, Mass.) before the Nichols regrouped and quickly knotted the game at 12 on a three-pointer by freshman Gustave Koumare (Harlem, N.Y.).

Nichols took its first lead of the contest (22-19) when Koumane nailed his second triple of the contest with eight minutes left in the opening stanza. Bennett sank two three's late in the half before a basket by junior Nicholas DaPrato (Marshfield, Mass.) sent the teams to the locker room tied at 30.

The second half started much like the first half for the Bison, which saw their opponent scored 14 of the first 16 points and build a 44-32 less than four minutes in on the strength of six points by Bailey.

Nichols closed to within nine (56-47) with seven minutes and change remaining following a three-point play by Ryan Sheehan (North Attleboro, Mass.) and later cut their deficit to nine again on a three from Sheehan. However, Clark made six free throws down the stretch to seal the win.

Koumare finished the evening with a career-high 11 points and a team-high four assists as the Bison received 36 points from their bench. They also turned 17 Cougar turnovers into 23 points but allowed them to shoot 46 percent from the field. Nichols missed six of its 11 attempts from the charity stripe.

In addition to Curley's shooting performance, Brian Vayda (Sturbridge, Mass.) notched a double-double with 18 points and a season-best 14 rebounds. Bailey, meanwhile, chipped in with 13 points and John Karas (South Glastonbury, Conn.) added 11 of his own.

Clark returns to the hardwood when it heads to Becker on Thursday for an 8 p.m. contest.