Beavers Win Third Straight Over Mammoths, Improve to 7-0 for First Time Since 2016-17

BABSON PARK, Mass.—Senior Frank Oftring (North Attleboro, Mass.) finished with a career-high 30 points and junior Andrew Jaworski (Tolland, Conn.) scored four points over the final 30 seconds to help Babson College secure an 87-82 win over 14th-ranked Amherst College in non-conference men's basketball action on Wednesday night inside Staake Gymnasium.

With the win, Babson improves to 7-0 for the first time since 2016-17, while Amherst slips to 3-2 overall with its second consecutive loss.

Oftring went 12-of-17 from the floor and added 10 rebounds to record his second double-double of the season for the Beavers. Jaworski scored 23 points on 9-of-14 shooting, junior Crew Ainge (Wellesley, Mass.) contributed 15 points and six assists, and senior Jack Coolahan (Newtown, Pa.) knocked down four three-pointers and finished with 12 points.

Junior Garrett Day (Pittsburgh, Pa.) scored 17 points on 6-of-11 shooting and senior Eric Sellew (Carlisle, Mass.) added 16 points and nine rebounds to lead the Mammoths. Junior Fru Che (Somerville, Mass.) finished with 14 points, senior Josh Chery (West Orange, N.J.) added 11 points and eight boards, and sophomore Will Phelan (Quincy, Mass.) chipped in with 10 points off the bench in the loss.

The Green and White came flying out of the gates knocking down nine of its first 12 shots, including six of eight from beyond the arc, to build a 24-13 lead just over six minutes into the contest. Day and Che combined for 15 points during a 22-12 spurt that saw Amherst pull within 36-35 on a three-point play by Phelan with 6:45 to go before halftime.

Up 53-49 at the break, the Beavers extended their margin to 58-51 on five straight points by Oftring before the Mammoths rattled off a 9-0 burst to grab their first lead since the opening minutes of the game at 60-58 on a bucket by Che with 15:03 remaining. Oftring scored seven of Babson's next 11 points to put the hosts back in front 69-65 at the 11:43 mark, while Jaworski and Ainge followed with layups to make it 74-70 with 8:53 left.

Sellew capped a 7-2 spurt with a hoop inside to give Amherst a 77-76 edge with 5:38 to go, and then followed up two free throws by junior Grant Robinson (McLean, Va.) with another bucket to keep the visitors in front 81-80 at the 2:36 mark. Oftring put the Beavers the lead for good with a layup on the ensuing possession, and Jaworski finished off a drive to the hole two possessions later to make it 85-82.

Robinson was unable to score on his drive to the hoop with under 10 seconds to go and Jaworski sealed the win with a pair of free throws with 4.3 seconds remaining.

The Green and White shot 60 percent in the first half when it connected on 11 of its 13 three-pointers, and 53 percent for the game while committing just five turnovers. The Mammoths shot 47 percent on the night and finished with a 39-26 edge on the glass.

Both teams return to action on Saturday at 2 p.m. as Babson travels to Salem State to open the New England Big 4 Challenge against the host Vikings, while Amherst travels to Emerson

GAME NOTES
• The Beavers are now 16-24 all-time against Amherst and have won three straight games in the series for the first time since 1990-92.
• As part of the College's Centennial Celebration, Babson debuted throwback uniforms inspired by the program's 1979 and 1980 squads. The Beavers defeated the Mammoths 58-45 at home during the 1978-79 campaign.
• Babson has won its last seven games against NESCAC foes and is 12-3 overall against the league going back to the 2016-17 season.
• Four of the last five games between Babson and Amherst have been decided by seven points or less.