Worcester, MA --- Zach Karalis (North Andover, MA) tallied seven points during a game-ending 14-2 run as WPI dashed away following 43-43 tie to defeat cross-town rival Clark 57-45 in a battle of teams undefeated in NEWMAC men's basketball play on Wednesday evening. 

WPI, ranked No. 6 in the latest D3hoops.com Top 25, remain perfect on the season at 17-0 and is now 4-0 in conference action.  Clark falls to 9-6 overall and 3-1 in NEWMAC contests. 

The Cougars got off to a 5-0 lead to start the game then both teams went 4:43 without scoring a bucket before Ryan Kolb (Southington, CT) hit a jumper to put the hosts on the board. Clark sprinted ahead 9-2 but then went over 9:49 without a basket and saw the Engineers surge ahead 14-10.  Clark then scored 12 of the final 16 points in the half to take a 22-18 advantage into the locker room at the break.  DJ Bailey (Palmer, MA) led the way with 10 points for the visitors, who enjoyed a 16-8 bulge in points in the paint but saw WPI score 12 points off of turnovers. 

The second half started with both teams trading 3- pointers before back-to-back buckets by Kolb tied the score at 25 with 17:34 remaining. Clark would then increase its lead to six on a pair of free throws by Bailey and two buckets by Marcus Armstrong (Malden, MA).

The Engineers would then go on a 14-0 run capitalizing on five Clark turnovers during the spurt. Sam Longwell (Acton, MA) paced WPI during the run registering seven of his gamehigh 16 during the uprising. 

The visitors would again tie the game at 43 with 5:12 remaining in the contest but WPI would end the game scoring 14 of the last 16 points highlighted by Karalis' heroics to close out the game.

The rookie finished the night with 14 points and Kolb chipped in with 13 rebounds. Longwell along with teammate Aaron Davis (Marshfield, MA) finished with a game-high in assists with four each while Davis notched a career-best seven steals.  Joe Wesoloski (Arlington, MA) led the way for the Engineers on the boards with seven caroms. 

Clark was led offensively by Bailey who ended the game with 16 points and six rebounds. Armstrong had a solid night totaling 13 points and five boards while Brian Vayda (Sturbridge, MA) starred on the glass, registering a game-high 10 rebounds on the night.   Nicholas DaPrato (Marshfield, MA) gave the Cougars a spark off the bench, tallying eight points, including a pair of 3-pointers. 

WPI plays the middle contest of three-game home stand Saturday when it hosts MIT at 2pm.  Clark is also home on Saturday, hosting Springfield at 1pm.