Worcester, Mass. – Joey Flannery (Acton, Mass.) scored 24 of his game-high 31 points in the second half and in overtime as Babson College, ranked No. 8 in the latest D3Hoops.com national poll, rallied from a 16-point second half deficit to knock off Clark University, 77-73, in New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) men's basketball action on Saturday afternoon.

The win for the Beavers is their ninth in a row, moving their overall record to 21-2 and they wrap up the road portion of the regular season schedule a perfect 10-0. In addition, their NEWMAC record sits at 11-1, giving them at least a share of their first regular season title since 2004.

Clark, meanwhile, sees its record fall to 9-14 overall and 4-8 in league games, but they remain in the hunt for the fifth and final spot in the upcoming league tournament.

While it was Flannery who did most of the scoring for the Beavers, it was Eric Dean (Gilford, N.H.) who provided arguably the game's biggest play. With Babson ahead 76-73 with less than 30 seconds left in overtime, he forced the ball free from a Clark ball handler and came up with the subsequent loose ball, finding a streaking Charlie Rice (Barnstable, Mass.), who was fouled with 21 seconds to go. Rice split the two ensuing free throws but that was enough to give the Beavers a two possession advantage. The Cougars missed their final three shots in the waning seconds as Babson completed the improbable comeback.

A loss was the furthest thing on the minds of Clark and their faithful in the opening 20 minutes as they came out on fire, shooting a torrid 60 percent from the field (15-for-25), including going 9-for-16 from behind the arc.

After Nicholas DaPrato (Marshfield, Mass.) scored on a layup and then back-to-back three-pointers from Andrew Musler (Belmont, Mass.) and DaPrato – the latter coming from 25 feet out - Clark was ahead 21-10 less than ten minutes into the game.

Matthew Droney (Canton, Mass.) cut that lead down to seven with a three-pointer of his own, but a Joseph Atkinson (Milford, Mass.) three and a David Mercier (Milford, Mass.) inside hoop, brought the Cougar advantage back to double figures at 28-16.

The Clark lead reached its first half peak at 32-18 when DaPrato canned another three-pointer but the Beavers ran off six straight capped by a breakaway two-handed dunk from Flannery and moments later when Bradley Jacks (Fort Washington, Md.) putback a missed free throw, Babson was within nine at 40-31.

Musler gave the Scarlet and White a little more breathing room as he scored two baskets in the final 1:12 of the half, sending the Cougars into intermission ahead, 44-31.

Things looked promising for Clark in the early portion of the second half when DaPrato connected on another three and their lead was 47-31.

The Scarlet and White was still in good shape a few minutes later after Mercier found Tyler Huffman (Hartford, Conn.) for one of his patented off-balance jumpers, making the score 53-38 with 13:48 left to play.

Over the next eight minutes, however, Babson mounted a masterful comeback, holding Clark to one made basket over that time as part of a 23-2 run that saw Flannery score ten points on his own and when the dust from the spurt cleared, the Beavers had their biggest lead of the game at 61-55.

Incredibly, the Beavers' last made basket of the second half came on a Flannery three-pointer with 8:27 left, but a parade to the free throw line kept them ahead.

DaPrato finally broke the Cougars scoring drought with a jumper that sparked a quick 5-0 run bringing Clark within one at 61-60. He eventually tied the game with a pair of free throws with 1:28 to play, but two more from the charity stripe from Babson gave them a 68-66 lead.

Once again, DaPrato knotted the game, this time at 68-68 when he scored off of an acrobatic finish with 32 seconds left.

The Beavers had one final chance to win the game in regulation, but Dean's corner three-pointer came up short as time expired.

Babson wasted little time getting the lead in the extra session as Dean found a cutting Flannery for an easy hoop and then John Wickey (Manchester, N.H.) did the same as he delivered a back door pass to Flannery that he hammered home with two hands, giving the Beavers a 72-68 lead.

Flannery then picked up a steal and it eventually led to Wickey finding a streaking Sam Bohmiller (Franklin, Mass.) for an easy two.

Clark answered back on its next possession as Musler drilled a deep three pointer from the left side and then converted a pair of free throws to make the score 74-73 with 1:47 left.

Flannery went back to the line on the next trip down the court and made both free throws giving the Green and White a 76-73 edge.

The Cougars actually had a couple of chances to even the score but both Musler and Conor Dow (Needham, Mass.) couldn't connect on potential game-tying threes. Dow's miss came out long to DaPrato – the Scarlet and White's third opportunity at an equalizer on the same possession – but Dean's defensive play thwarted any chance of a Clark victory.

Babson won the interior battle, outrebounding the Cougars 43-29 and outscoring them 28-16 in the paint.

After opening up the game shooting well from behind the arc, Clark went cold making just two of their final 15 three-point attempts. The Scarlet and White finished the game shooting 43 percent from the field overall, while the Beavers shot 40 percent.

Babson also held a sizable advantage at the free throw line, making (21-of-30) more than Clark attempted (14-for-16).

Five different players played 40 minutes or more led by Flannery who played the entire 45 minutes and Wickey who played 42. Dean and the Cougars' DaPrato and Musler each played 40.

In the end, Flannery was the difference registering his fifth game this season with 30 points or more on an extremely efficient 10-for-19 from the field and a perfect 8-for-8 from the free throw line.

Wickey was the only other Beaver in double figures, finishing with 17 points and five assists but Dean added six points a game-high 14 rebounds, four steals and three assists.

Musler led Clark with 25 points – 18 of which came in the first half – while DaPrato added 23 points, six rebounds, four assists and four steals. Mercier, who fouled out after 27 minutes of action, added nine points, five rebounds and two blocks, and Huffman chipped in with eight points and five assists.

Both teams are back in action on Wednesday with league contests. The Beavers will play host to Coast Guard, while the Cougars travel to Springfield. Tip off for both games is at 7:00 p.m.