Leicester, Mass. – Becker College defeated Clark University 60-58 in non-conference men's basketball action Thursday evening at the Leicester Gymnasium. The win lifts the Hawks record to 4-2, while the Cougars fall to 3-5. 

Becker held the lead for the majority of the first half, holding as much as a nine point advantage. The Hawks lead 28-19 with 3:44 remaining in the half before Clark went on 11-2 run, tying the game at 30-30 with just over a minute left.

Becker took a 34-30 cushion into the locker room on a David Maturah (Windsor Locks, Conn.) layup and a Scott Dulaire slam dunk (Bloomfield, Conn.) to close out the half.

Becker opened the second half on an 11-0 run to extend their lead to 45-30.  Clark would battle back with a 16-2 run of their own, cutting the Hawks lead to one at 47-46 with 9:14 remaining in regulation. The Hawks held on to their lead until Andrew Musler (Belmont, Mass.) tied the game at 58-58 when hit a pair of free throws with 50 seconds left on the clock.

On Becker's next possession, Kyle Credle (Queens, N.Y.) nailed a mid-range jumper from the right side of the basket with 19 seconds on the clock to give Becker a 60-58 lead.

After a timeout, Clark had a chance to win the game on a Nick DaPrato (Marshfield, Mass.) three pointer as time expired, but it clanked off the rim as the Hawks held on for the victory.

Clark held and impressive19-4 edge on offensive boards in the game. Musler and David Mercier (Milford, Mass.) each earned double-doubles after registering a game high 16 points, while pulling down 14 and 11 rebounds respectively. DaPrato finished with 15 points, while Joe Atkinson (Milford, Mass.) dished out a game high seven assists and added seven rebounds.

Clark returns home on Tuesday, December 9 when they host cross-town rival Worcester State at 7:00 p.m.

Release Courtesy Of Becker Sports Information