WILLIAMSTOWN, MA – Taylor Epley scored 27 points in 26 minutes to help the Williams men's basketball team defeat Connecticut College (5-10, 0-4 NESCAC) 96-63 today.  The Ephs (14-1, 4-0 NESCAC) took the lead from the opening tip-off and did not let up as they cleared the bench in today's win.

The Ephs were out to a quick 10-0 start, but the Camels looked to get back in it following a timeout.  With Connecticut unable to convert, though, Taylor Epley and Daniel Wohl hit back-to-back threes for the Ephs.  The Camels finally scored their first points of the game on a baseline three-pointer by Jared Shill just under five minutes into the game.

After trading hoops, the Camels were within striking distance of a single-digit lead, but Matt McCreary finished a pull-up jumper in the middle of the lane to make it 20-6 with 12:39 to play.  A couple possessions later, Michael Mayer had a beautiful spin move in the lane to push the lead to 16. Nate Robertson then went two-for-two from the charity stripe to add to the Ephs' lead.

Connecticut finally scored again off of a pretty move in the lane from John Bullit.  On the next Camel possession, he added another bucket off of an assist from Bryan Gross to cut the lead to 14. Robertson, however, responded with another pair of free throws for the Ephs. After the Ephs got a pair of free throws from Parker McClelland and a third from Mayer, Matt Vadas hit a jumper for the Camels.

The Camels began to get back in the game with an 8-0 run. Following Mayer's pretty finish of an and-one opportunity for the Ephs, Bo McKinley swooshed a three-pointer from the top of the key.  On the next Camel possession, he forced a foul in transition and made both free throws.  The Camels then cut the lead to just 12 after Vadas nailed a long ball from the right baseline.  Epley, however, responded calmly for the Ephs with a long ball of his own from the top right part of the key. After trading hoops, Klemm hit a huge three-pointer for the Ephs from the top of the key with just over a minute to play to push the lead back to 16.  Robertson then had a drive to the hoop for two.  Bullit hit a reverse lay-up for Connecticut to end the half as the Ephs went into the locker room with the 42-26 lead.

To start the half, Connecticut looked to get back in the game.  Shill finished a drive to the hoop and was fouled.  He converted the three-point play. Mayer, however, nailed a long three for the Ephs.  After Vadas hit a jumper for Connecticut, McClelland swooshed a three from the left baseline to push the lead back to 17.

The Ephs continued to pull away on the shoulders of Epley, who scored 17 of the Ephs' next 23 points. He finished an and-one opportunity in the paint before hitting a long ball and then a jumper.  McClelland then finished inside for the Ephs before Epley hit yet another three ball. Mayer and Klemm added a lay-up apiece to push the lead to 65-44 with just over ten minutes to play. Epley then made a lay-up and was fouled. He converted the three-point play before making another long ball to end the run with the Ephs up 71-44.  Despite tough play from Connecticut on both ends of the floor, Epley's hot hand proved too much for the Camels as the Ephs won their fourth league game.

In addition to Epley's 27, the Ephs got 17, 12 and ten points from Mayer, Robertson and Wohl respectively.  Williams was 53.7% from the floor on the day.

Leading the way for the Camels was Vadas with 23. Shill was the only other Connecticut player in double digits with 14. The Camels were 37.7% from the field in today's match-up.

Said Coach Mike Maker after the game, "It was an interesting weekend. On the one hand, we come all the way back from a 17-point deficit to beat a very good team on Friday night in front of a great crowd.  That would take a lot out of most teams, and we were very thrilled with that victory.  To come out today and get out of the gates and then to be able to sustain and build on that lead and get contributions from people that deserved the opportunity – Ryan Kilcullen played very well with the starting unit – and guys who haven't gotten the opportunity – our freshman guards (Luke Thoreson and Adam Harrell), Greg Payton and Edward Flynn – [was great and] I couldn't be prouder."

He added, "[I'm proud because] we're 4-0 in the league. We've won coming from a big deficit.  We've won sustaining a large lead.  We've won on the road.  We're getting contributions from everybody, and the most important thing is that we have team chemistry and a toughness and a will to win.  If I'm not happy with where we're at, something is wrong.  I'm not sure how much better we can play than we did this weekend."

Added Maker about his offensive star Epley, "I would like to know if there is a better player right now in the NESCAC than Taylor.  He's a tough guard. He shoots threes. He can drive it. He can post. He makes free throws, and he guards the opponent's best player.  He does everything for us.  He plays the most minutes; he's matured as a player.  A lot of people like to compare him to Blake Schultz.  To me that's good company because Blake was National Player of the Year and a tough kid.  Taylor is a tough kid.  He's a go-to guy for us.  We're not where we're at without Taylor."

Looking ahead to the Ephs' difficult schedule over the next couple weeks, Maker said: "It's process. We're very happy with where we're at, but we're not going to be content with where we're at.  We need to get better, and we know that.  It's a process. We're going to enjoy this weekend and being 4-0 (in NESCAC play) and 14-1. We feel good about ourselves but know we have a long way to go to get better and do what we want to do."  

He added, "All we're doing on Monday is getting better for Williams basketball in preparation for Lyndon State.  That's it.  I think last year – and when you play and coach at Williams – there was so much noise – on the heels of two Final Fours – about the end result and Final Fours at Williams.  That's not what I want. What I want is process. It's journey. This team is in the moment, and that's all I want.  I want us to get better and play to the best of our abilities.  If we do that, we're successful whether we go to a Final Four or not.  I love our team.  I love how we're playing, but we have a long way to go if we're going to be as successful as we want to be, and we know that."

The Ephs return to the court on Tuesday. They will play away at Lyndon State at 7:00 PM.