WORCESTER, Mass. – Clark men's basketball (15-4, 9-1 NEWMAC) welcomed Salve Regina (10-9, 4-6 NEWMAC) to the Kneller Gymnasium for the first time since the Seahawks joined the NEWMAC and came away with a convincing 86-47 victory on Wednesday night.
How it Happened
- Clark jumped out to an early 10-8 lead as juniors Isaiah Taylor and Bruce Saintilus each hit three-pointers and buckets from junior Kekoa McArdle and senior Mikey O'Brien helped the Cougars take an early edge.
- After Salve took the lead at 12-11, Clark scored 10 unanswered points as junior Ian Calabrese netted five points and four from Saintilus gave the scarlet and white a 21-12 lead with 10:32 to go in the first half.
- The teams then traded baskets over the next few minutes of action before a triple from senior Jordan Richard helped keep the lead at 29-20 with 6:53 to play in the first half.
- First-year Christopher Clarke and Saintilus each hit three-pointers and a made layup from Taylor helped the Cougars push their lead to 39-22.
- McArdle and Saintilus netted the team's final four points of the half as Clark took a 43-24 lead into the break.
- The Cougars opened the second half on an 8-5 run as Saintilus and Neumann each scored three points and McArdle made a layup to help extend the team's lead to 51-29 with 16:41 to go.
- Taylor scored five of Clark's next nine points as the Cougars extended the edge to 60-35 before five more O'Brien points helped the scarlet and white take a commanding 67-35 lead with 9:55 remaining.
- Neumann connected on a pair of triples before McArdle, Clarke, and junior Kyle Jackson all scored to extend the lead to 78-41.
- Clarke scored five points down the stretch and Jackson connected on a three-pointer off a feed from sophomore Emmett Hamilton as the Cougars came away with an 86-47 victory.
Inside the Box Score
- The Cougars grabbed 43 rebounds, dished out 20 assists, and recorded 11 steals.
- Saintilus led the team with 19 points and four steals, while adding seven rebounds.
- Taylor added 14 points and three blocks.
- Clarke (12) and McArdle (11) also reached double-figures.
What's Next
The scarlet and white will return to the court on Saturday afternoon with a home contest against Babson beginning at 4:00 p.m. from the Kneller Gymnasium.