Beavers' Braithwaite scores 1,000th point in victory
BABSON PARK, Mass. – The Wheaton College men's basketball team was handed a 74-49 loss by Babson College on Saturday afternoon at Staake Gymnasium in a New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) matchup.
Wheaton sophomore forward Ryan Clinesmith (New York, N.Y./The Hill School) poured in a team-high 12 points and three rebounds. Classmate Mike O'Loughlin (Milford, N.H./Milford) collected nine points, two rebounds and three assists while senior guard Scott Faucher (Lebanon, N.H./Kimball Union Academy) tallied eight points, hauled in six boards, dished out three helpers and had one steal.
Senior forward Russell Braithwaite (Brooklyn, N.Y./St. Mark's School), who scored his 1,000th career point in a Beavers uniform, notched 18 points on 8-for-11 shooting from the field, five caroms, two assists and two steals. Junior guard Matt Palazini (Franklin, Mass./Franklin) recorded a game-high 19 points, four rebounds and one helper. Sophomore forward John Wickey (Manchester, N.H./Manchester Central) had 14 points and four rebounds while junior guardKenny Ross (Furlong, Pa./Academy of the New Church) rounded out the list of double-digit scorers for Babson with ten points.
The Beavers shot 46.4-percent (26-for-56) from the field, 31.6-percent (6-for-19) from beyond the arc and 76.2-percent (16-for-21) at the free throw line. Wheaton went 40.5-percent (17-for-42) from the floor, 29.4-percent (5-for-17) from three-point range and 71.4-percent (10-for-14) at the line. The Beavers outrebounded the Lyons, 32-26, held a 24-16 advantage in points in the paint and a 16-6 margin in points off of turnovers in the contest. Wheaton's bench outscored the hosts, 12-10.
Babson went on a 16-5 run over the opening nine minutes and 19-seconds of play as Braithwaite registered ten points during that stretch. Palazini hit a three-pointer at the 16:56 mark and Wickey canned three-straight free throws at 14:19 after being fouled outside of the three-point line. The Beavers closed out the half with a 33-19 lead and opened up their advantage to as many as 28 points with 5:52 remaining in the second stanza.
Freshman guard Billy Battaglia (Simsbury, Conn./The Taft School) scored all seven of his points on 3-of-4 shooting from the field (1-for-1 from three-point range) in the second half. Clinesmith led the Lyons with ten second half points.
Wheaton (6-9, 0-5 NEWMAC) hosts Framingham State in non-conference action on Monday, January 21 in Emerson Gymnasium at 2 p.m. Babson (10-8, 2-4 NEWMAC) hosts Bowdoin in a non-conference matchup on Tuesday, January 22 at 7 p.m.