WORCESTER, Mass. – The Clark men's basketball team (2-0) played their first home game of the 2021-22 season and cruised to a 97-70 victory against Fitchburg State (1-2) on Wednesday afternoon from the Kneller Gymnasium in a non-conference contest.

Coach Simms' Thoughts

"We were able to battle through some tough spots as Fitchburg really challenged and put pressure on us. Our guys really competed and played hard, and we were able to get enough stops to close it out. Also, the crowd tonight was awesome. It was great to see and hear a packed Kneller… I hope everyone comes out again to support our guys Saturday vs Bates!

How it Happened

• Clark got out to an early 13-8 lead with baskets from sophomore Bruce Saintilus, two layups from graduate student Biko Gayman, a three-pointer from graduate student Tyler Davern, and a pair of layups from graduate student Matthew Waggett with 14:50 to go in the first.
• Sophomore Mikey O'Brien then heated up for Clark with consecutive three-pointers and a layup to go up 22-11 and the lead grew to 29-13 with 8:43 left in the first half off a Saintilus three-pointer.
• The teams traded baskets over the next two minutes of play before first-year Isaiah Taylor converted a pair of free throws and senior Gralen Vereen made a backdoor layup to go up 42-25 with 4:43 to go in the first.
• The Falcons cut the deficit to 10 before the break despite three more points from Gayman as Clark led 47-37 at the half.
• The teams traded baskets early in the second half before senior Zackary Mittelstadt buried a three to push the lead to 56-41 with 17:33 to go in the second and a O'Brien layup pushed the lead to 60-41.
• The Falcons got back to within 13 before sophomore Kolby Randolph connected on a three to extend the advantage back to 16 with 13:00 minutes left before Taylor made a pair of contested layups to keep the lead at 67-51 with 9:56 remaining.
• Clark then went on a 6-2 run sparked by a Gayman layup and pushed the advantage to 80-58 on a Saintilus layup with 5:29 to go.
• The Cougars ended the game on a 17-12 run with points from seven players over that stretch as the scarlet and white came away with a 97-70 win over the Falcons.

Inside the Box Score

• Gayman led the team with 20 points and shot 8-12 from the floor.
• Saintilus added 17 points on 7-13 shooting and grabbed six rebounds.
• Taylor and Mittlestadt contributed 15 and 12 points respectfully.
• Davern led the team with eight rebounds and scored eight points.
• 11 Cougars scored in the contest and the team hit six three-pointers.
• Clark grabbed 42 rebounds, shot 42.2 percent from the floor, dished out 14 assists, and recorded 15 steals.

What's Next

Clark will return to the Kneller for the second game of a three game homestand when they welcome Bates on Saturday afternoon in a non-conference affair beginning at 2:00 p.m.