Morales three-pointer with 56-seconds left pushes winning streak to five games

NORTON, Mass. – The Wheaton College men's basketball team pushed its winning streak to five-straight games as the Lyons posted a 68-59 victory over Regis College in non-conference action on Thursday night at Emerson Gymnasium.

Wheaton led by as many as 21 points in the second half (10:26) before the Pride dwindled their deficit down to five (61-56) with one minute and 56-seconds remaining using an 18-2 run. Lyons sophomore guard Jaycob Morales (Lawrence. Mass./Central Catholic) dashed any chance of a Regis comeback bid with a wide open three-pointer from the right wing with 56-seconds left to go in the contest on a feed from Eddie Capstick (Worcester, Mass./Marianapolis Prep).

Sophomore forward Ryan Clinesmith (New York, N.Y./The Hill School) recorded his first-career double with a game-high 16 points, ten rebounds, two assists and one steal. Classmate Mike O'Loughlin (Milford, N.H./Milford) filled out the stat sheet with 14 points, nine caroms (four offensive), a game-high five assists, two steals, one block and only one turnover in 36 minutes.

Morales finished with 13 points, two rebounds, two steals and one assist while freshman guard Eric Davis (Middleton, Mass./Milton Academy) canned three 3-pointers for nine points total, two rebounds, one assist and one steal.

For Regis, junior guard Ryan Chambers (Abington, Mass./Abington) had 16 points on 5-of-9 shooting, 2-of-3 from beyond the arc and 4-of-4 from the line, two rebounds, two assists and one steal.

The Pride also had three different scorers pour in nine points apiece as sophomore forward Ethan Peana (Staten Island, N.Y./Saint Peters) went 3-for-7 from the field, freshman guard Carlos Bermudez-Glean (Boston, Mass./Cathedral) shot 3-of-9 from the floor and 1-of-3 from long distance and junior guard Ahmad Charles (Cambridge, Mass./Cambridge Rindge & Latin) went 4-of-9 from the field.

Regis made claim to an early 7-6 lead in the first half as Chambers scored every single point for the visitors on a pair of free throws, one 3-pointer and a jump shot at 15:49 for a 7-2 advantage. The Lyons answered with a 30-19 run over the remainder of the half for its biggest lead in the stanza, 37-25, with 13-seconds left. Charles closed out the opening 20-minutes of play for the Pride with an old fashioned three-point play with 0.7-seconds remaining.

Wheaton shot 43.6-percent from the field, 45.5-percent from beyond the arc and 76.9-percent at the free throw line. Regis compiled a 40.4 field goal percentage, went 30.0-percent from long range and 72.0-percent at the line. The Lyons outrebounded the Pride, 33-28, and 12-8 on the offensive glass. The hosts held a 30-16 advantage in points off the bench while Regis earned a 21-17 margin in points off of turnovers and a 30-14 differential in points in the paint.

Wheaton (5-0, 0-0 NEWMAC) hosts Bridgewater State University on Saturday, December in Emerson Gymnasium at 1 p.m. Regis (0-5, 0-0 NECC) travels to Worcester State University on Saturday at 5 p.m.