WORCESTER, Mass. – Clark men's basketball (18-6, 12-3 NEWMAC) welcomed MIT (6-19, 5-11 NEWMAC) to the Kneller for their final home game of the season as well as their senior day game and came away with a convincing 109-85 victory over the Engineers.

Prior to the game, seniors Mikey O'Brien and Jordan Richard were recognized for their contributions to the men's basketball program. To this point, the class has accounted for 51 wins and a pair of NEWMAC Tournament appearances.  

How it Happened

• The two teams traded baskets early in the game as the Cougars took a 10-8 lead led by eight points from junior Bruce Saintilus and a pair of three-pointers before a triple from sophomore Reid Neumann extended the advantage to 13-8 with 15:36 to play in the first half.
• Another Neumann triple and a made layup from first-year Christopher Clarke extended the edge to six at 18-12 and seven unanswered points, including five from Richard helped Clark take a 25-12 lead with 10:16 to play in the half.
• Richard scored six of Clark's next eight points before a layup from first-year Quentin Pridgen off a feed from Saintilus helped the Cougars keep a double-digit lead at 35-23.
• Junior Isaiah Taylor and Richard combined to score Clark's next nine points as the scarlet and white took their largest lead at 46-28 before the teams traded baskets for the next two minutes as a jumper from Saintilus made it a 52-34 contest with 3:06 remaining.
• Junior Kekoa McArdle scored four straight and another Richard triple as well as a Clarke layup gave the Cougars a 61-42 lead heading into the locker room.
• McArdle scored four of Clark's first eight points of the second half to extend the edge to 69-44 before a Saintilus layup with 15:32 to play kept the Cougar lead at 71-49.
• Sophomore Reid Neumann hit three triples midway through the second half and a layup from sophomore Aedan Derrick gave Clark an 85-58 lead with 11:31 remaining.
• Derrick then scored four unanswered before a Richard three-pointer as well as layups from O'Brien and Taylor pushed the edge to 95-64 with 9:13 to play.
• McArdle, Richard, junior Kyle Jackson, Clarke, and junior Caleb Henty Brown each scored down the stretch as the Cougars came away with a convincing 109-85 win over MIT.

Inside the Box Score

• The Cougars shot 53.9 percent from the floor, grabbed 41 rebounds, dished out 30 assists, and recorded 15 steals.
• Richard led the way with a career-high 26 points and hit seven three-pointers.
• Saintilus added 18 points and five rebounds.
• Neumann (15), McArdle (14), and Clarke (11) also reached double-figures.
• Taylor dished out a team-leading nine assists and recorded four steals.
• O'Brien added seven assists, seven rebounds, and five steals.

What's Next
The scarlet and white will return to the court for their regular season finale on Saturday afternoon when they travel to Springfield for a NEWMAC contest beginning at 12:00 p.m.