Leicester, MA --- Junior Sam Longwell (Acton, MA) scored a career high 30 points to lift WPI to a 70-64 victory over cross-town rival Becker in non-conference men's basketball action Saturday afternoon. With the win, the Engineers improved their record to 10-1, while the Hawks fell to 4-5. 

Along with netting a career high in points, Longwell also set a career mark with six three pointers.Zach Karalis (North Andover, MA) chipped in with 15 points and Ryan Kolb (Southington, CT) scored nine points and pulled down a game high nine rebounds. It was the final non-conference game of the season for WPI, who is now 23-1 the last two regular seasons against non-conference foes.

Becker was led by Donovin Ford-Hayes (Windsor Locks, CT) with a team high 18 points and four steals. Junior David Maturah (Windsor Locks, CT) tallied 12 points, while Darius Sealy(Cambridge, MA) and Reginald Finney (Ansonia, CT) came off the bench to score ten points apiece. 

The Hawks took a 64-61 advantage with 3:27 remaining in regulation when Tyler Roberson (Irvington. NJ) fed Maturah for a crowd-pleasing dunk.  Chad LaBove (Shrewsbury, MA) hit two free throws for WPI, cutting the Hawks lead to 64-63. The score remained the same until Aaron Davis (Marshfield, MA) found Longwell in the corner for what proved to be the game winning three pointer with 57 seconds remaining on the clock.  The Crimson and Gray iced it when Karalis and Kolb combined to drain four free throws in the final 22 seconds.

WPI, who opened the game on a 9-1 run, used a 10-2 spurt to close the first half to take a 44-36 advantage at the break.  The Enginners shot 57.7% from the floor in the opening half but turned the ball over 15 times.  In the second stanza they shot just 25% but committed only four turnovers. 

Becker returns to the court on Tuesday, January 7 when they host NECC opponent Southern Vermont at 6pm. WPI will travel to NEWMAC rival Springfield on Wednesday, January 8 at 7pm in a rematch of last year's NEWMAC Tournament title game won in overtime by the Engineers.

Release Courtesy Becker Sports Information