Norton, MA --- John Lowther (Hingham, MA) tallied a game-best 17 points and Brett Marelli (Hampton, NH) reached a new career-high with 14 to propel nationally-ranked WPI to a 68-48 triumph over host Wheaton in a NEMWAC men's basketball contest on Wednesday evening.
WPI, ranked 20th in the latest D3hoops.com Top 25 and second in the most recent NCAA Division III Region II ranks, has won four straight and improves to 20-3 on the season and 12-1 in conference action. Wheaton slips to 13-19 overall and 8-5 in NEWMAC play.
The Crimson and Gray will be the top seed in next week's NEWMAC Tournament and will host Tuesday's quarterfinal winner next Thursday in a semifinal at 7pm in Harrington Auditorium. The regular season championship is the 12th overall for the Crimson and Gray in the 25th anniversary year of the NEWMAC and ninth outright crown, both conference-bests. The Engineers also reached the 20-win mark for the 16th time in program history, with 15 of those under the tutelage of 23rd year head coach Chris Bartley.
Lowther adding nine rebounds in addition to his 18 points, while Marelli provided a huge spark off the bench as his 17 points outscored the entire Wheaton bench (13). The duo was joined in double figures by teammate Aidan Callahan (Rowley, MA), who netted 13 points on 6-of-8 shooting. John Adams (Douglas, MA) racked up 8 points and paced the way for all players with 10 rebounds.
Alex Carlisle (Saint Johnsbury, VT) was the lone Lyon to reach double figures recording 15 points on 6-of-11 shooting from the floor. Forward Aaron Williams (Springfield, MA) led Wheaton with seven boards, while scoring five points and recording a game-best three steals.
WPI and Wheaton battled through much of the first half, with the Engineers leading 21-18 with 6:49 to go before the intermission. WPI would engineer an 11-3 run over the next 5:04 to extend its lead to 32-21. Wheaton added the last four points of the half, to close the gap to seven heading into the break. The trio of Lowther, Callahan, and Marelli combined for all 32 of WPI's first half points, while shooting 13-of-18 from the field (72.2%). Lowther led the way with 13 points, Callahan notched 11, and Marelli chipped in with eight. Wheaton saw balanced scoring from their team as Carlisle notched seven points in the half.
Wheaton cut the lead down to four with 15:57 remaining in the game, but that was as close as it would get. WPI erupted on a 10-0 run to take a 45-31 lead with 11:44 to play. Adams and Marelli combined for 17 second half points, dominating the paint for the Crimson and Gray.
The Engineer defense was relentless throughout the game. WPI held Wheaton to just 16-of-54 from the field (29.6%) and 3-of-16 from deep (18.8%). Wheaton misfired on all eight of its three-point field goals in the second half, only connecting with 8-of-28 shots in the half (28.6%).
WPI netted 27-of-51 field goals (52.9%) in the game, including 5-of-11 from behind the arc (45.5%). The Engineers edged Wheaton 35-29 on the glass and flexed its muscle down low with a 36-22 advantage in points in the paint.
Both teams close out the regular season with home Senior Day contests on Saturday. WPI tangles with Clark at 3pm while Wheaton squares off with Emerson at 1pm.
Majority of Recap written by WPI Sports Information Student Assistant Cam Carlin