WORCESTER -- The #13 WPI men's basketball team ran away with a 77-49 victory over visiting Coast Guard on Wednesday night at Harrington Auditorium. The Engineers, winners of seven straight, move to 15-2 overall, remaining a perfect 7-0 in NEWMAC play. The Bears fall to 4-13 overall, 2-4 in conference action. 

WPI pulled away midway through the first half, building a 45-23 lead at the break. In the second, the Engineers extended the lead to as many as 32 before settling on the final. WPI shot 48.4% (31-64) from the field, holding Coast Guard to 28.3% (15-53) while putting up a 44-34 advantage on the glass. The bulk of the Engineers' points came in the paint where they held a 42-16 advantage in the category. 

WPI's John Lowther (Hingham, MA) led all players with 20 points on 8-of-12 shooting while adding five rebounds and three blocks. John Adams (Douglas, MA) recorded 16 points and a game-high 14 rebounds to finish with his third-straight double-double, making it five this season and 21 in his career. Ben Sseruwagi (Belmont, MA) chipped in with nine points in just 10 minutes of action, while Tim Reidy (Wellesley, MA) had eight. Aidan Callahan (Rowley, MA) captained the offense to the tune of eight assists, while Brett Marelli (Hampton, NH) added six points and five rebounds. 

For Coast Guard, Declan Rooney (Seattle, WA) led with 12 points and Luke Farrell (Ortley, NJ) picked up 10 points and seven rebounds. Trevor Parks (Oldsmar, FL) notched nine points and five rebounds, while Bryce VanderWiere (Schoolcraft, MI) added eight points. 

WPI got the first bucket of the game, but the early action was even, settling at 6-6 after five minutes of play. From there, a 7-0 run, sparked by six points from Lowther, put the Engineers up 13-6. Coast Guard cut the lead to four on a Parks free throw, but the WPI run continued, as a three-point play from Adams made it 27-16 with 6:34 to play. A Rooney three got the Bears' deficit to just eight, but the Engineers put together an 18-4 run over the final five minutes of the half to lead 45-23 after one. 

Coast Guard rallied early in the second half, getting the lead back down to 19 on an 8-5 opening run. WPI countered with 13-3 surge to push the lead to 29 points at 63-34 with 12:23 left. The Bears couldn't contain the Engineers' offense down the stretch, with the WPI advantage ballooning to as many as 32 points before finishing at 77-49. 

Both teams continue NEWMAC play on Saturday. Coast Guard has an 11am tip at Wheaton, while WPI will play at Springfield at 3pm.