Pair of Impressive Streaks Come to an End in WPI's Loss at Coast Guard

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New London, CT --- Junior Noah Baldez (Lower Gwynedd, PA) scored a game-high 18 points to lead Coast Guard men's basketball to a 73-58 victory over WPI in their fourth straight NEWMAC victory on Saturday afternoon. The Bears improve to 14-6 overall and 5-5 in conference play.  WPI drops to 16-5 overall and 7-3 in the NEWMAC. 

WPI has won the last 22 games against Coast Guard dating back to 2007-08 season when the Bears beat the Engineers 82-66 in the NEWMAC championships.  It also snapped the Crimson and Gray's seven game overall winning streak this season. 

Baldez was 7-11 from the field, dished out four assists, and added four steals in the victory. Junior Jason Frazer (West Haven, CT) matched his season-high with 14 points, going 4-9 from the field and 3-7 from three point range. Senior Nolan Benson (Lexington, NC) and junior Packy Witkowski (Melrose, MA) both added 12 points each while junior Justin Kane (Arnold, MD) brought down a game-high 10 rebounds. 

Sophomore Kahleb Downing (Middletown, CT) led WPI with 17 points with six rebounds and three assists. Freshman Logan O'Donnell (Fishkill, NY) added 15 points for the Engineers, going 6-6 from the field and 3-5 from the free throw line while sophomores Reid Walker (Lithia, FL) and Ethan Harrell (Wexford, PA) each chipped in with eight points.  Downing and Harrell led the guests on the glass with six rebounds apiece with Downing handing out a team-high three assists on the day. 

WPI had their largest in the first half at 7:24 when Downing mad a free throw to give the Engineers a 24-16 advantage. At 4:31, Frazer sunk a three pointer to spark a 12-4 run capped off by a Witkowski jumper with four seconds remaining to tie the game 30-30 at the half. 

Witkowski opened the half with a three pointer and two free-throws in the first minute of the half as the Bears took a 35-32 lead. Frazer sunk a fast break three pointer to extend the Bears lead by 6. Ethan Harrell made a three pointer to WPI at 17:06 to bring the Engineers within one at 40-39. With the score tied at 48-48 at 11:44 Coast Guard scored the next seven points to take the lead back, 55-48. The Bears put the game away 8:02 when Benson made a layup to spark an 18-8 run to end the game with the 73-58 final. 

Coast Guard shot 43.5% (27-62) from the field and held a 41-32 advantage in rebounds. 

The Bears are back in action on Wednesday, February 6 at 7:00 PM when they travel to MIT.  WPI hosts Babson on Wednesday at 8pm. 

Majority of Release Courtesy Coast Guard Sports Information