NORTON, MA- The Wheaton College men's basketball team held a nine-point lead with less than seven minutes to play in regulation before visiting Elms College forced overtime en route to a 69-63 victory over the Lyons on Tuesday night in Emerson Gymnasium. 

Falling for the fourth time in games decided by six points or fewer, Wheaton drops to 0-6, while the Blazers snapped their two-game losing skid to improve to 4-2.

Lyon senior Anthony Coppola (Watertown, MA/Watertown) notched a team-best 24 points and seven rebounds, while junior Anthony Weeks (Fitchburg, MA/Worcester Academy) turned in his first career double-double with 13 points and 11 rebounds, as Wheaton held a commanding 50-36 advantage on the boards.  Sophomore Brian Johnson (Roxbury, MA/Brimmer and May School) added 10 points off the bench.

For Elms, sophomore Brittain Purcelle (Tarrytown, NY/Irvington) shot 11-of-20 from the floor for a game-best 25 points.  Senior Juan Alverio (Toa Baja, Puerto Rico/Calusa Prep) posted an all-around solid performance with 12 points, a game-high 16 rebounds and five blocks.

Knotted at 53 heading into the extra session, two ties and lead swings ensued before Elms took the lead for good on a jumper by senior Arsenio Avant (Southwest Ranches, FL/Cypress Bay) that made the score 58-57 in the Blazers' favor.  A pair of Coppola freebies with 1:23 to go brought Wheaton within 60-59, but Elms used a 9-2 run to lead 69-61 with 3.4 ticks on the clock.

In the second half, the Lyons trailed by six on two occasions before turning a 31-25 deficit at 18:40 into a 41-35 edge at 9:36, with Coppola pouring in nine points during the stretch.  With the hosts holding a nine-point lead with 6:52 on the clock, the Blazers reeled off eight unanswered points to close the gap to 48-47 at 4:50.  Neither team led by more than three for the remainder of regulation, as the squads found themselves deadlocked as time expired.

Five lead changes and ties took place during a low-scoring first half, as Elms was the first team to reach double figures at 10-8 approaching the 11-minute mark.  A Purcelle bucket sparked a 7-2 Blazer run, giving the visitors the half's largest lead at 15-10 with under nine minutes to play before the break.  Wheaton responded with an 8-2 spurt to lead 18-17 at 5:55 before Elms scored nine of the frame's final 13 points for a 26-22 halftime advantage.

The Lyons head to Weston this weekend for the Regis College Tournament, where they will take on Thomas College on Friday at 7:00 p.m.  The consolation and championship games are slated for Saturday at 1:00 p.m. and 3:00 p.m., respectively.