Worcester, Mass. – Western New England shot a red-hot 56 percent from the field and they controlled the interior as well, and the Golden Bears snapped a four-game losing streak with a 79-72 win over Clark University on Monday evening in non-conference men's basketball action.

With the win, WNEU moves to 2-4 on the season, while the Cougars, who have now dropped three straight games, stand at 2-4 as well.

Both teams shot extremely well in the first half with Clark dropping in eight three-pointers and the Golden Bears shooting a sizzling 65 percent (18-for-28).

Tyler Huffman (West Hartford, Mass.) was the offensive star of the first 20 minutes, draining four first half triples as the Scarlet and White surged ahead by as many as eight following his fourth made three-pointer at 29-21.

After Huffman found Andrew Musler (Belmont, Mass.) underneath for an easy hoop making the score 34-26, Western New England embarked on a half-ending 17-4 run, that featured a pair of triples from Mike Gelineau (Waltham, Mass.) and another from Nelson Zayas (Springfield, Mass.), that saw the Golden Bears jump ahead 43-38 at the half.

Clark got as close as two early in the second half when Lamar Berk (Saint Augustine, Fla.) converted a conventional three-point play and Joseph Atkinson (Milford, Mass.) dropped in a transition jumper, making the score, 47-45.

Western New England answered back with a 12-4 run highlighted by two Gelineau three-point bombs and a strong interior finish by Zack Askew (Middletown, Conn.).

The Cougars got as close as five on a few occasions, including once after a Huffman three-pointer and a pair of Musler free throws, making the score 66-61 with under six minutes to play, but every time the Scarlet and White crept closer, visitors had the answer.

Clark was within five again at 75-70 with a little more than a minute to play after a Nicholas DaPrato (Marshfield, Mass.) layup, but an aggressive interior finish by Musa Elsir (Springfield, Mass.) put the game away with 53 seconds to go.

The Golden Bears held a 39-29 edge in rebounds and a 32-22 advantage on points in the paint and a 20-13 bulge in second chance points.

Askew was the difference on the inside for WNEU, finishing with his second double-double of the season with 16 points and a game-best 14 rebounds.

Gelineau added 16 points of his own, Elsir chipped in with 13 points and six boards, while Lucien Fortier (Southbury, Conn.) had his second straight excellent performance off the bench with ten points and nine rebounds.

DaPrato led all scorers with 19 points, while Huffman had his second straight 17 point performance, going 5-for-8 from behind the arc.

Musler totaled nine points and five boards for Clark and Atkinson added seven points, seven assists and four steals in his first start of the season.

Clark will have little time before returning to the hardwood as they travel to Connecticut College on Tuesday evening, while the Golden Bears open up Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) action with a road trip to Curry College on Wednesday.