MIDDLETOWN, Conn.  (Nov. 20)  --- Using an 11-0 run over the final five minutes of the first half, visiting Williams took control of the contest against host Little Three rival Wesleyan and went on for a 56-48 men's basketball victory here tonight in a night characterized by uncharacteristically poor shooting by both squads.  Williams stayed undefeated on the season at 3-0 while Wesleyan dropped to 2-1.  The next action for Wesleyan comes up Sun., Nov. 25 with a visit to Albertus Magnus.  Williams is back on the court Sunday as well, hosting nearby foe Mass. College of Liberal Arts.

 Trailing for the last time in the game, 24-23, when Cardinal sophomore Brian Galvin hit one of just two three-pointers for Wesleyan in the contest with 5:00 to go before halftime, Williams hit three of four baskets, including a trey from junior Taylor Epley, who had five points during the 11-0 run and finished the game with a team-leading 13, and four of five free throws to complete its run.  Wesleyan went 0-for-7 from the field with two turnovers during the decisive five-minute stretch.

For the opening 18 minutes of the second half, neither team made much headway as the 10-point halftime lead (34-24) was extended to no more than 11 by Williams and whittled to no less than seven by Wesleyan until senior Shasha Brown, who led all scorers with 25 points, canned a pair of free throws with 2:03 remaining to make it a 50-44 game.  A free throw by Williams junior Michael Mayer was countered by a Brown basket to get Wesleyan within five at 51-46 with :54 left.  But the Ephs made five of eight from the line in the final minute while Wesleyan missed two shots, committed a turnover and got a bucket from senior Mike Callaghan with :10 on the clock for the final score.  Callaghan ended the game with nine points and eight rebounds.  Rebounding honors for the game went to Wesleyan junior Julian Harris with 11. 

Williams got 10 rebounds each from sophomore Daniel Wohl, eight of those in the opening 12 minutes of the contest, and Mayer, who also had eight points.  The Ephs got nine point from senior Nate Robinson.

Williams shot just 38.6 percent from the field while Wesleyan managed a mere 29.3 percent, including 2-of-17 from behind the arc.  Williams made only four of 19 attempts from long range.  Total rebounds slightly favored Williams, 42-36, and turnovers slightly favored Wesleyan, 15-12.  This was the 225th meeting of the long-time rivals with Williams holding a 142-83 edge in the series.  The squads face each other again January 11 in Williamstown, Mass. in a game that counts in the NESCAC standings.