BABSON PARK, Mass. – The Clark men's basketball team (17-6, 6-6 NEWMAC) dropped a conference game 85-61 against Babson (17-6, 10-2 NEWMAC) on Saturday afternoon from Staake Gymnasium.

The Cougars clinched a spot in the NEWMAC Tournament today as well despite the loss with a Springfield loss.

How it Happened

• Babson took an early 15-6 lead with the six Clark points coming from graduate students Tyler Davern and Biko Gayman, and sophomore Bruce Saintilus before a three-pointer from senior Joel Arteaga cut the deficit to six at 15-9 with 9:57 to go in the first half.
• After Babson pushed the lead to 11, Gayman and Saintilus sparked a 9-2 run with six points coming from Gayman and a three-pointer from Saintilus as Clark got to within four at 22-18 with 6:30 left in the first half.
• The teams traded baskets over the next two minutes as three free throws from graduate student Matthew Waggett and a Taylor layup kept Clark within four, but the Beavers then pushed the lead to 10 at 33-23.
• Three free throws from the Cougars, two from Arteaga and one from Taylor got them back within seven and a Taylor layup before the break kept the deficit as seven as Clark trailed 36-29 at the break.
• The Beavers opened the second half on a 17-2 run with the Clark bucket coming from Saintilus before Waggett and senior Zackary Mittelstadt each adding three points in a 55-37 game.
• Sophomore Jordan Richard netted a team-leading eight points and fellow sophomore also added five points down the stretch as Babson came away with an 85-61 win.

Inside the Box Score

• Gayman scored a team-high 11 points.
• Saintilus added nine points and six rebounds.
• Waggett grabbed seven rebounds and scored eight points.
• Clark grabbed 36 rebounds, made five threes, and dished out nine assists.

What's Next

The Cougars will return to the court on Wednesday night when they welcome Springfield to the Kneller for a NEWMAC contest beginning at 7:00 p.m.