Worcester, Mass. – Behind a balanced scoring effort that saw six different players reach double figures, host Clark University pulled away in the second half and posted an 85-72 win over Wheaton College in New England Women's And Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) men's basketball action on Saturday afternoon at the Kneller Athletic Center.

The win for the Cougars is their third in their last four games as they improve to 4-9 overall, but more importantly even their league record at 1-1. For the Lyons, meanwhile, who entered the contest winners of four of their last five, they drop their third straight to the Scarlet and White dating back to last season. They now sit at 7-4 overall and 1-1 in conference contests.

Things started out well for the visitors as they raced out to a 7-0 lead on the strength of a three-pointer from Ryan Fogarty (Walpole, Mass.) and a pair of acrobatic Liam Bruno (Newton, Mass.) layups.

Clark answered back, going on a 12-2 run over a three minute span to take their first lead. John Pisacreta (North Andover, Mass.) kicked everything off with his first of three triples on the afternoon and then Lamar Berk (Saint Augustine, Fla.) made two free throws. Luke LaLima (Colts Neck, N.J.) kept the momentum going with a coast to coast score and then David Mercier (Milford, Mass.) scored five straight points to put the hosts in front.

The lead would change hands three more times and the score would be tied six additional times over the next 12 minutes, including at 34-34 after Tyler Huffman (West Hartford, Conn.) made a pair of free throws with 38 seconds remaining in the half.

Wheaton had a response in the form of Billy Battaglia (Simsbury, Conn.), who drilled a three-pointer with less than 30 seconds to play in the half to send the Lyons into intermission ahead, 37-34.

The Lyons kept the pressure on in the opening moments of the second half, pushing their lead to as many as seven on a couple of occasions, the last coming following a Fogarty layup with a little under 16 minutes left to play that made the score 49-42.

Clark didn't go away and went on a 14-3 run over the next five plus minutes that when the dust cleared they were in front, 56-52. Mercier, Pisacreta and Joe Atkinson (Milford, Mass.) all had baskets in the run but some damage was done at the free throw line as Luca McCormick (Bradenton, Fla.) and Corey Gomes (Uxbridge, Mass.) both made a pair and Mercier added four of his own.

A Quinton Dale (Winthrop, Mass.) three-point play was in between a pair of Gomes baskets, which was followed by a Fogarty jumper, knotting the score at 60-60.

After Battaglia made a pair from the charity stripe, Pisacreta scored five straight for the Cougars on a three-pointer and fast break layup to kick start a 17-8 burst that put the game away and featured a pair of conventional three-point plays from Atkinson, including one where he soared above and tapped in an offensive rebound while getting fouled.

Clark's lead ballooned to as many as 16 when Berk found a cutting Gomes for the Scarlet and White's final basket with 30 seconds remaining.

Wheaton actually shot the ball extremely well, connecting on 53 percent of their attempts, but they committed 20 turnovers and shot just 13-for-24 from the free throw line (54 percent).

The Cougars turned the Lyons' 20 turnovers into 29 points and with Gomes leading the way, the Cougar reserves outscored the Wheaton bench 29-6.

Fogarty was electric from the start scoring 16 of his game-high 25 points in the first half, while Dale was strong inside for the Lyons, recording his third double-double of the season with 17 points and 11 rebounds.

Battaglia, meanwhile, entered the contest as the league's second leading scorer at 22.4 points per game, but was held to just 12 points on 4-for-11 shooting.

Pisacreta led the Cougar contingent with a career-best 15 points, while Gomes also finished with a career-best 13 points and four boards and Mercier added 13 and seven rebounds of his own. Atkinson totaled 11 points and eight rebounds, while Berk had 11 and Huffman chipped in with ten.

Wheaton has little time before their next game as they step out of conference for a home contest against Fisher College on Monday.

Clark meanwhile, plays host to Emerson College on Wednesday before embarking on a crucial three game road stretch next Saturday.