NEW LONDON, Conn. – The Clark University men's basketball team (7-6, 3-1 NEWMAC) traveled to Coast Guard (6-6, 2-1 NEWMAC) for a road NEWMAC game and despite leading at the half, fell 77-75 to the Bears on Saturday afternoon from the Roland Gymnasium.

How it Happened

• The Cougars jumped out to an early 9-6 lead sparked by four points sophomore Quentin Pridgen, three from junior Reid Neumann, and two from senior Kekoa McArdle before Pridgen and first-year Boluwasefe John both made free throws.
• Senior Ian Calabrese and senior Bruce Saintilus combined to score Clark's next five points to extend the advantage to 18-13 with 10:59 to play and an and-one jumper from Saintilus pushed the lead to six.
• Saintilus then connected on a three-pointer as the Cougars held the Bears scoreless for three minutes as they held a 26-17 advantage and a layup from senior Isaiah Taylor kept the lead at seven after a made triple from Coast Guard.
• Pridgen, John, first-year Kyle Squires, and McArdle all scored before the half as the scarlet and white took a 36-33 lead into the half.
• Neumann and McArdle combined for Clark's first five points of the second half before the Bears tied the contest up at 41-41.
• Saintilus scored the next four points of the game and assisted a made dunk by John as the Cougars went back up 47-44 with 15:08 remaining.
• McArdle scored four of the Cougars next six points to help extend the lead to five before the Bears went 9-4 run to tie the game at 57-57 with 9:13 to play.
• After the Bears took a lead, Saintilus and Calabrese each made three-pointers to go back up by four, but four straight from Coast Guard tied the contest back up.
• Saintilus then made four free throws and a free throw from Taylor tied the game at 69-69 with 3:48 to play.
• Down two with 2:08 to play, McArdle made a layup off a feed from McArdle tied the game up at 73-73 before Elijah Parent made a pair of free throws to give the Bears a 75-73 edge.
• Pridgen and Saintilus each made foul shots down the stretch, but couldn't regain the lead as Coast Guard came away with a 77-75 victory.

Inside the Box Score

• Clark grabbed 42 rebounds, made 23 shots, knocked down 23 free throws, dished out 14 assists, and forced 14 turnovers.
• Saintilus led the team with 20 points, eight made free throws, and six assists.
• McArdle nearly tallied a double-double with 14 points and nine rebounds.
• Pridgen also reached double-figures with 11 points and added eight rebounds.

What's Next
Clark returns home for a NEWMAC game against Emerson on Tuesday night from the Kneller Gymnasium beginning at 5:00 p.m.