Worcester, Mass. – Senior guard Billy Harkins scored nine of the last 11 Springfield points leading the visiting Pride to a thrilling 75-72 win over host Clark in New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) men's basketball action on Wednesday evening.

The win lifts the Pride to 10-8 overall and 3-3 in league play, while the Cougars drop their fourth straight and slip to 6-13 overall and 0-6 in conference action.

Neither team led by more than seven points and the game featured ten ties and 12 lead changes.

Harkins, however, was the difference as he made several huge plays down the stretch including a pair of steals at half court on consecutive possessions that swung the game's momentum into Springfield's favor.  

With Clark ahead 66-64, he scored on an inside drive to tie the game for the tenth and final time. Ryan Coburn (West Warwick, R.I.) then buried a baseline jumper to give the Pride a lead they wouldn't relinquish with 1:31 left.

Applying pressure, Harkins was able to knock the ball free pick it up and race to the hoop for a basket that put Springfield up 70-66 with 1:14 left.

On the following possession, Harkins was able to jar the ball loose again, this time diving onto the floor and getting fouled while gaining control of the ball. He made the first free throw, and missed the second but Matt Cavalieri (West Warwick, R.I.) swooped in to grab the offensive board and the ball found Harkins again. He was fouled and this time made both free throws, giving the Pride a 73-66 lead with 45 seconds left.

Brian Vayda (Sturbridge, Mass.) mounted a rally, burying a long three-pointer seven seconds later and the score stood at 73-69.

Harkins then split a pair of free throws again and after each team turned the ball over on their next possession, Vayda then drilled another three to close the Springfield lead to 74-72 with six seconds left.

Another trip to the line for Harkins again resulted in him making one of two and Jeff Tagger (Brockton, Mass.) had a chance to send the game into overtime, but his three-pointer fell short as time expired.

For the first time in several contests, Clark's offense seemed to have flow as the Cougars nearly outscored their entire game's offensive output against Babson (41) on Saturday in the first 20 minutes of this game (36).

The Cougars shot 46 percent from the field and 86 percent from the free throw line but continued to struggle from the three-point line (27 percent, 6-for-22).

Springfield, meanwhile, forced 18 Clark turnovers and converted them into 20 points. The Pride's bench, led by Pat Rossi (Rock Tavern, N.Y.), outscored the Clark reserves 19-9.

The Cougars held a 43-31 edge on the glass but committed 18 turnovers – 13 of them steals by Springfield.

Although Cavalieri led the Pride with 20 points and seven rebounds, Harkins was the deciding factor, finishing with 17 points, eight assists, seven steals, five rebounds and only one turnover in 30 minutes of action. Rossi added 12 points off the bench for Springfield, while Coburn added 11 points and five rebounds.

Vayda totaled a game-high 26 points to go along with six rebounds and five assists in 34 minutes, while Mitch Renshaw (Rutland, Mass.) added 14 points and eight boards. Sophomore Tucker Esborn (Branford, Conn.) chipped in with his first double-double (13 points, ten rebounds).

The Cougars have a week off until they visit Wheaton next Wednesday, while the Pride returns to action on Saturday with a road trip to the Lyons.