CAMBRIDGE, Mass. – Freshman Bradley Jomard (Paris, France) scored a season-high 20 points and MIT held off a late charge by Clark University to take a 56-51 men's basketball victory in the New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) opener for both schools. Junior Lamar Berk (Saint Augustine, Fla.) led Clark with 18 points and six rebounds. 

Berk hit a pair of early baskets to help Clark (3-9, 0-1 NEWMAC) to an 8-5 advantage over the first five minutes of the contest. A three by senior Justin Pedley (Kennewick, Wash.) tied the game for MIT (9-2, 1-0 NEWMAC), but junior David Mercier (Milford, Mass.) answered with a trey for the Cougars to make it 11-8.

MIT then scored eight straight points, taking a 16-11 lead on a layup by freshman Tim Roberts (Oak Bluffs, Mass.) at the 10:51 mark. The Engineers hung on to their lead until the final two minutes of the half when a layup from senior Corey Gomes (Uxbridge, Mass.) and a three by junior Joe Atkinson (Milford, Mass.) pulled Clark back within one at 23-22. A pair of free throws by freshman Adam Jurko (Weston, Fla.) in the final minute gave MIT a three-point cushion at the half, 25-22.

Jomard opened the scoring in the second half to give MIT a five-point advantage. That was as big a lead as MIT could get over the first eight minutes as Clark stayed close and eventually tied the game at 36-all when Berk hit a three and then connected on one of two free throws after turnover by MIT. Jomard then drained a three for MIT, starting a 16-5 run for the Engineers over the next six minutes that resulted in a 52-41 lead when Jomard finished the streak with a layup with six minutes left. 

Clark had an answer to the MIT run, scoring six straight to cut it to 52-47 with 3:23 left on a jumper by Berk. Jomard hit on a shot for the Engineers, but a three by freshman Luca McCormick (Bradenton, Fla.) made it a four-point game with 2:24 to go. That turned out to be the last field goal that Clark could get, however, as MIT picked up another basket from Jomard and saw its defense do the rest as the Engineers claimed the win.

Jomard also led MIT in rebounding with seven, helping the Engineers to a 34-20 advantage on the boards. Jurko also finished in double figures for MIT with 14 points, with senior Ryan Frankel (New York, N.Y.) handing out a game-high seven assists that helped the Engineers shoot 56 percent from the floor. McCormick added 10 points off the bench for Clark, which was held to 37 percent shooting. 

Next up for MIT will be a trip to #19 WPI on Saturday for a 3:00 p.m. NEWMAC matchup. Clark will play its first conference game at home on Saturday, hosing Wheaton College at 3:00 p.m.