FRAMINGHAM, Mass. – Clark University men's basketball put together its best offensive game of the season so far to pick up a non-conference victory at Framingham State as junior Biko Gayman (Fort Pierce, Fla.) dropped a season-best 28 points and nine assists to lead a quartet in double-figures in an 81-73 final on Saturday afternoon.

The Basics

Score: Cougars 81, Rams 73

Records: Clark University (4-5) | Framingham State (1-9)

How it Happened

Gayman enjoyed an efficient 9-of-16 from the floor (56.3%) and 4-of-6 from beyond the arc (66.7%) to achieve the game-high output of 28 points. Additionally, the junior facilitated the offense with nine assists while recording five rebounds, three steals, and one block.

Sophomore Joel Arteaga (Wyncote, Pa.) posted his third game of ten or more points, providing support with 14 points and six rebounds while junior Charles Stevens (Bronx, N.Y.) led all bench scorers with a season-high 13 points coming on 4-of-8 shooting while setting a new career-high in steals (3) and adding a block. 

Junior Matthew Waggett (Saugus, Mass.) also put together a memorable effort as the forward posted his first collegiate double-double with 12 points on a pair of three-pointers while also corralling a career-high ten rebounds.

The Cougars grabbed the lead 14 seconds in as Gayman connected on a three-pointer from a feed by Waggett. Gayman was feeling it from distance early as he drained two more treys over the next 6:30 on the clock to give Clark a 13-9 advantage.

Framingham State took an 18-16 lead, its only one of the game, with 11:25 left following an end-to-end layup from Zaire Peart. The teams jostled for control until three-pointers by Anthony Grzembski (Webster, Mass.) and Arteaga sparked a 9-2 run to give the Cougs a 28-22 lead with 6:59 to go in the half.

Clark extended the lead, 34-26, after a pair of jumpers from Zackary Mittelstadt (Wilton, Maine), but Framingham trimmed it to four points after a brief 4-0 run, capped off with a basket from Tarik Rivers.

The Cougars were able to hit their stride over the final 4:23 of the half, starting with a pair of free throws from Gayman and an ensuing triple by Stevens. In the final minute of the half, Waggett finished a layup inside before converting a free-throw to give the team a ten-point cushion headed into the break.

In the second half, the Cougars continued to build upon the momentum, starting at the 18:48 mark of the frame as Waggett connected inside before a steal by Mittelstadt's led to a bucket of his own for a 48-36 advantage.

Clark had the hot-hand shooting throughout the game, but it showed early in the second half as the team maintained a ten-point margin via the three-pointer. Over the opening ten minutes in the half, the Cougars received three deep balls with Stevens giving the team a 60-45 lead on one with 10:39 left.

The Cougars kept pushing offensively as Gayman, Arteaga, and Waggett all connected on three-point attempts in just over a minute span for a 17-point margin with 7:13 in regulation.

But Framingham State wouldn't surrender. Senior Tyri Hampton settled into a groove for the Rams, scoring seven of nine points for the team to trim the deficit to 74-61.

The Rams continued to battle as a layup from Dominque Jenkins-Maxwell capped off a 10-2 run for the host to bring the deficit to just five points with 3:47 to play. It was the closest that Framingham would get, however, with the Cougars securing the 81-73 final.

Clark had its best three-point shooting game of the season, connecting on 14-of-34 from beyond the arc to finish 41.2% for the game. Additionally, the Cougars 81 points marked the most of the season to date. 

Up Next

The Cougars take a 22-day hiatus due to winter break before returning to action on Sunday, December 29 against the Vikings of Salem State in opening round action of the Salem State Holiday Tournament at 3:00 pm.