BABSON PARK, Mass. – Clark men's basketball (9-3, 3-0 NEWMAC) opened the 2024 portion of their schedule with a contest against Babson (5-7, 1-2 NEWMAC) and came away with a 66-52 victory thanks to a strong second half on Wednesday night from Staake Gymnasium.  

How it Happened

• Babson jumped out to an early 7-2 lead despite a layup from junior Isaiah Taylor before Clark scored three unanswered with points from juniors Bruce Saintilus and Kekoa McArdle to make it a 7-5 contest with 15:59 remaining in the first half.
• The Cougars responded with an 8-5 run over the next eight minutes as first-year Reid Neumann hit a three, junior Ian Calabrese made a layup, and Saintilus scored in the paint to give Clark a 13-12 edge with 7:45 to go in the half.
• McArdle scored the scarlet and white's next three points before five unanswered from first-year Quentin Pridgen extended the lead to 23-15.
• The Beavers however responded with eight straight points before the half as the game was tied at 23-23 at the break in a back-and-forth rock fight.
• Babson scored the first five points of the second half before Taylor ended the run with a made jumper and an and-one from Saintilus made it a 30-28 contest within the first three minutes of the half.
• Saintilus scored Clark's next five points, including another and-one layup and free throws from Pridgen gave the scarlet and white a 37-35 edge.
• Senior Jordan Richard hit a three-pointer and buckets from senior Mikey O'Brien and Pridgen pushed the lead to six at 44-38 with 12:00 to go in the game.
• After tying the game at 44-44, Saintilus connected on a jumper to end a five-minute drought of scoring to give Clark the lead back at 46-44 with 6:14 remaining.
• McArdle and Neumann combined for the Cougars next five points to give Clark a 51-47 edge and after the Beavers got back within two, the scarlet and white responded with an 8-0 run sparked by four points from O'Brien to go up 59-49 with 2:13 to go.
• A triple from O'Brien with 1:38 remaining helped put the game away as O'Brien and Saintilus each made free throws down the stretch as Clark recorded a 66-52 win.  

Inside the Box Score

• The Cougars grabbed 42 rebounds, dished out 10 assists, forced 13 turnovers, and shot 44.4% from the floor.
• Saintilus led the team with 15 points and five assists.
• McArdle nearly registered a double-double with 11 points and nine rebounds.
• O'Brien scored 11 points and registered two steals.
• Pridgen recorded nine points and eight rebounds.

What's Next
Clark will welcome Coast Guard to the Kneller for a NEWMAC contest on Saturday beginning at 1:00 p.m.