WORCESTER, Mass. – Led by a season-high 58 percent shooting – including a torrid 16-for-23 effort in the final 20 minutes – host Clark University opened up New England Women's And Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) action with a 74-66 win over Babson College on Tuesday afternoon.
 
The Cougars also connected on a season-best nine three-pointers en route to victory, improving their 2012-13 ledger to 7-5 overall and 1-0 in league play. The Beavers, meanwhile, have now dropped both of their league games thus far and now sit at 8-6 overall.
 
Both teams came out firing and the game stood at 8-8 after a Russell Braithwaite (Brooklyn, N.Y.) inside basket with 15:23 left. Clark then went on a 17-6 run over the next six minutes as three different players – Marcus Armstrong (Malden, Mass.), Tyler Huffman (Hartford, Conn.) and Nicholas DaPrato (Marshfield, Mass.) – all dropped in three-pointers during the spurt.
 
Babson had the lead down to five at 29-24 a few minutes later after back-to-back three-pointers of their own from Matt Palazini (Franklin, Mass.) and John Wickey (Manchester, N.H.). Clark then bumped the lead back up to nine at 33-24 at the break after holding the Beavers scoreless over the final 4:27 of the frame.
 
A 9-2 run to open the second half capped by a conventional Wickey three-point play got Babson to within two at 39-37, but a Jake Guibtose (Fiskdale, Mass.) three-pointer gave the Cougars some breathing room.
 
Everytime the Beavers got close – they trimmed the lead to one on two separate occasions in the second half – Clark came up with an answer. After consecutive triples from Wickey and Travis Sheldon (Woodstock, N.Y.), Huffman responded with a three of his own, igniting a 10-0 run that included a slick feed to fellow freshman Tyler Veretto (South Windsor, Conn.) for a score and an Armstrong trifecta that gave the Cougars a 60-49 edge with less than eight minutes to play.
 
The lead ballooned to as many as 14 when Brian Vayda (Sturbridge, Mass.) drained a three-pointer and Armstrong made a short jumper, making the score 67-53 with 3:57 left.
 
Babson made one final push as Sheldon rattled home a three and Braithwaite made an excellent interior move inside and converted a three-point play.
 
The Beavers were only down 69-63 with 1:07 left after back-to-back misses on the first free throws of 1-and-1's by Clark, but the Cougars eventually settled down from the line and went 5-for-6 from the charity stripe in the final 45 seconds to secure the victory.
 
In addition to their hot shooting, the Cougars held a 41-23 edge on the glass and had 16 assists on their 29 made baskets.
 
Babson was aided by a strong interior game, holding a 30-18 edge in points in the paint while also forcing 17 Clark turnovers which were converted into 22 points. The Cougar reserves were a huge spark in the win, outscoring the Beaver bench 29-0.
 
Palazini made four three pointers on his way to a game-high 23 points in 38 minutes of action, while Wickey finished with 20 points and 10 rebounds. Braithwaite chipped in with 14 points, four rebounds and three assists for Babson, who also got a game-best six assists and four steals from Kenny Ross (Furlong, Pa.).
 
Armstrong paced the Clark offense with 16 points on a perfect 6-for-6 shooting to go along with six rebounds. Vayda ended with 12 points and nine rebounds, while three others – Bailey, Veretto and Huffman all tossed in eight points each.
 
Both teams have quick turnarounds for their next contest. Babson hosts Springfield on Thursday at 7:00 p.m., while the Cougars entertain Wheaton at 3:00 p.m. the same day.

NOTE: Taken from a Clark University press release.