Willimantic, Conn. – Behind the tournament's Most Outstanding Player, Brian Vayda(Sturbridge, Mass.) and all-tournament team selection D.J. Bailey (Palmer, Mass.), Clark University knocked off host Eastern Connecticut State 74-65 to claim the title at the Warriors' 32nd annual tip-off tournament on Saturday afternoon at Geisseler Gymnasium.

The Cougars improve to 2-0 for the first time since 2005-06 as they shot a sizzling 50 percent from the floor for the game and forced 16 turnovers.

Vayda and Bailey led four Clark players in double figures with 16 points apiece, while Marcus Armstrong (Malden, Mass.) and Jake Gubitose (Fiskdale, Mass.) each chipped in with ten points.

Down by five points midway through the first half, Clark used a devastating 19-2 run – capped by a deep Vayda three-pointer to seize control of the game. The Cougars went into halftime ahead 39-28 – a lead that could've been a lot bigger but Clark couldn't keep tabs on Brian Salzillo. Salzillo, who finished with a game-high 20 points, hit four of his six three-pointers in the first half.

The game tightened in the second half, as the Warriors got as close as four at 57-53 as they used some trapping defense to help energize their comeback.

Clark, however, was able to respond, going on a 12-3 run over a five minute span where they held the Warriors to one basket and pushed their lead to 69-56 with less than three minutes to play, securing their 2-0 start.

The Scarlet and White shot 50 percent from the field (28-for-55) and outscored ECSU 32-20 in the paint. For the second straight contest, Clark's reserves came up huge, as they posted a 19-1 advantage over the Warriors bench.

Clark will return to action on Tuesday when they visit Worcester-area rival Anna Maria at 5:00 p.m.