WORCESTER, Mass. – The Clark University men's basketball team (6-5) closed out non-conference play with a home contest against Bridgewater State (5-6) and came away with a convincing 96-83 victory on Saturday afternoon from the Kneller Gymnasium.

How it Happened

• Junior Reid Neumann and senior Isaiah Taylor opened the game with made three-pointers before a triple from senior Ian Calabrese pulled Clark within one at 12-11 in a high scoring first three minutes of action.
• Senior Kekoa McArdle made his second layup and another Calabrese three-pointer gave the Cougars a 16-14 edge before first-year Kyle Squires buried a triple with 14:25 to go in the half.
• After a pair of made three-pointers from TJ Williams, sophomore Christopher Clarke made a layup off a feed from Taylor and four unanswered points from senior Bruce Saintilus, including a fastbreak dunk helped the Cougars hold a 28-27 lead halfway through the first half.
• Down 32-28, McArdle scored Clark's next six points before Calabrese's third triple of the half gave the scarlet and white a 37-34 edge with 5:55 to play.
• The Cougars ended the half on an 8-6 run as first-year Boluwasefe John and Saintilus each netted four points as Clark took a 45-40 lead into the break.
• Graduate student Jordan Richard buried a triple on Clark's first possession of the second half before a jumper from Taylor off a feed from McArdle extended the Cougars advantage to 52-45.
• After five straight from the Bears, Richard buried his second three-pointer of the half and a pair of made layups from McArdle pushed the lead back up to seven before a pair of free throws from Squires gave Clark a 61-54 lead with 14:28 to play.
• Squires then connected on a triple off a feed from Taylor to go up eight, but the Bears responded with seven straight points as they trailed 66-65 before an and-one layup from McArdle helped Clark gain a 69-65 edge.
• First-year Nathan Charlot and Saintilus netted Clark's next five points before a layup from John pushed the advantage to nine at 78-69 with 6:43 remaining in the half.
• The Bears got as close as six from the lead before Squires and Saintilus each hit three-pointers as Clark held an 84-76 lead before the Cougars ended the game on a 12-7 run with seven more points from Taylor to help the squad prevail 96-83.

Inside the Box Score

• Clark shot 48.6 percent from the floor, grabbed 42 rebounds, dished out 21 assists, and connected on 13 three-pointers.
• McArdle led the team with 21 points and nine rebounds.
• Saintilus added 16 points and a team-leading seven assists.
• Taylor (13), Squires (11), and Richard (10) also reached double-figures for the Cougars.

What's Next
The Cougars will close out a five-game homestand and return to NEWMAC play on Wednesday night when they welcome Babson to the Kneller for a contest beginning at 6:00 p.m.