AMHERST, Mass. – Two storied rivals battled it out on Friday night in yet another instant classic, with this one going to Amherst as the Mammoths overcame a nine-point deficit in the second half to defeat the Wesleyan men's basketball team, 71-67, from LeFrak Gymnasium. Wesleyan (13-6, 4-1 NESCAC) sees their 11-game win streak, third-longest in program history, snapped by the Mammoths (8-11, 3-3 NESCAC).
 
After neither side led by more than three for the opening 11+ minutes, a mini 5-0 spurt for Preston Maccoux '23 suddenly gave Wesleyan a 28-21 lead with 7:08 left in the first half. The margin remained at six just under three minutes later but the Cardinals managed just two points in the closing four minutes, seeing the Mammoths finish the half on a 10-7 run to tie the score at 33 apiece.
 
Maccoux again broke loose for three-pointers on consecutive trips to turn a two-point game into a 47-39 Cardinal advantage four minutes into the second half. The Cardinals later took the biggest lead of the game for either side at 50-41 but the Mammoths answered with what was a game-saving 13-0 run to turn a nine-point deficit into 54-50 lead.
 
For the next six minutes of play, the two sides traded buckets and the margin was just a one-possession game up until there was 53 seconds remaining when CJ Mitchell's two free throws made it 68-62 Mammoths. Refusing to go away, Maccoux came up big once again and. hit from three. After Mitchell turned the ball over, Nicky Johnson '25 drove the lane for two and it was 68-67 Amherst with 28 seconds left.
 
Amherst again turned the ball over seconds later, giving Wesleyan the ball back with a chance to take the lead trailing by just one point. Playing the hot hand, Maccoux drove the lane and saw his floater hit iron with the rebound secured by Dan Schlakman. The Mammoth forward went to the line and only hit one, giving Wesleyan another chance to tie or take the lead.
 
With 16 seconds left, Mitchell was hit with a non-shooting foul on Johnson, sending the sophomore to the line for a one-and-one situation. With the home faithful playing their part, Johnson missed the front end with the rebound deflecting off Jared Langs '25.
 
The Mammoths then saw Schlakman go the line again and this time, he buried both to make it a four-point game with nine seconds left. Looking for a late three, Maccoux wasn't able to connect and Amherst celebrated the 71-67 victory.
 
Maccoux led all scorers in this one, scoring 14 for his 21 points in the second half alone. He finished 5-of-8 from three while adding seven rebounds in 36 minutes. Shackylle Dezonie '23 went for 12 points and five rebounds. Johnson, Langs, and Shane Regan '25 all scored nine points.
 
Amherst was led by their bench in this one, with Mammoth substitutes accounting for 46 of the team's 71 points. Schlakman finished with 14 points and 13 rebounds while Chris Hammond went for 13 points, both off the bench.
 
Wesleyan looks to rebound on Saturday with a 3 PM tip at Hamilton.