Middletown, Conn. – Host Wesleyan used a crucial second half run to seize control of the game and the host Cardinals pulled away from Clark University, 81-67, on Saturday afternoon in the consolation game of the Herb Kenny Tip-Off Tournament.

The win for Wesleyan evens out their record at 1-1 after dropping their season opener on a buzzer-beater to Lyndon State on Friday. For the Cougars (1-3), meanwhile, they have now lost three straight games after a season-opening win.

Wesleyan took a while to get started as Clark built a seven point lead in the early stages of the first stanza. The first half saw six ties, but it was Wesleyan who went to the locker room with a 39-37 lead thanks to a jumper by BJ Davis, who finished the game with a team high 23 points and a spot on the All-Tournament team.

The game was tied at 54-54 with a little less than ten minutes left after a pair of free throws from Luca McCormick (Bradenton, Fla.). Wesleyan went on a 12-2 run capped by back-to-back dunks from Jordan Bonner and Jordan Sears to build a lead they would never relinquish.

Clark would get as close as six with less than five minutes left on a McCormick inside hoop and a David Mercier (Milford, Mass.) jump hook, but the Cardinals answered back highlighted by a three-point play from PJ Reed.

Wesleyan saw its lead balloon to as many as 16 after six straight free throws by Davis in the final two minutes.

The Scarlet and White shot just 33 percent from the field in the contest, while the Cardinals had a commanding 48-31 lead on the glass. In what turned out to be a very physical game with 63 fouls called, Clark kept the game close for long periods because of their free throw shooting (23-for-29).

McCormick led the Cougars with a career-best 18 points off the bench, going 10-for-10 from the charity stripe. Tyler Huffman (West Hartford, Conn.) added 17 points and was named to the All-Tournament Team.

Joe Atkinson (Milford, Mass.) chipped in with eight points, five rebounds and four assists, while Lamar Berk (Saint Augustine, Fla.) ended with 11 points and eight boards.

Clark will return to action and the friendly confines of the Kneller Gymnasium on Tuesday with a 4:00 p.m. tip off against Anna Maria.