WORCESTER, Mass.  – The Clark University men's basketball team (6-4, 1-1 NEWMAC) welcomed crosstown rival No. 22 WPI (7-1, 2-0 NEWMAC) to the Kneller Gymnasium and played a back-and-forth game before falling 76-72 to the Engineers on Saturday afternoon.

How it Happened

• The Engineers opened the game on a 12-1 run led by four points from J.R. Newman and three points from both Justin Molen and Matt Morvillo with the Clark point coming off a free throw from sophomore Kyle Squires before the Cougars rattled off four straight points as juniors Malik Matanmi and Quentin Pridgen scored to make it a 12-5 game with 14:06 to go in the half.
• WPI pushed the lead to as many as 12 before Clark rattled off 13 straight points sparked by eight points from senior Reid Neumann, three points from Pridgen, and a pair of made free throws as the Cougars held the Engineers scoreless for over four minutes to give the scarlet and white a 22-21 lead with 6:18 remaining before the break.
• Jack Bleier ended Clark's run with a made layup and helped spark an 8-3 run, including an and-one three-pointer from Bleier, with the Cougars three points coming on a triple from first-year Trace Clark.
• Squires answered with an and-one three-pointer of his own to tie the game at 29-29, but WPI ended the half on a 7-5 run with John adding three points and Pridgen hit a jumper as the visitors took a 36-34 advantage into the locker room.
• Iscandari scored first points of the second half with a made layup off a feed from Squires before Matt Morvillo of WPI rattled off the contests next five points.
• Neumann, John, and Trace Clark combined for the Cougars next six points and after Clark trailed by seven, the scarlet and white scored eight unanswered as John netted four points, Neumann connected on a triple, and Trace Clark hit a free throw as the home side led 50-49 with 11:45 remaining.
• WPI answered with six unanswered before a layup from Trace Clark and an and-one from Iscandari pulled the Cougars back within two at 57-55.
• Squires connected on a triple to tie the contest at 58-58 before the Engineers again rattled off seven straight points started by a made triple from Tim Reidy, then John threw down a slam and Neumann connected on another triple to make it a 65-63 contest in favor of the visitors with 6:19 to play.
• Bledsoe and Iscandari traded baskets before Bleier and Reidy scored five unanswered for WPI to extend their edge to 72-65 with 3:45 to go.
• Pridgen and John combined for the next four points of the contest and after a pair of made free throws from Reidy, Neumann connected on a triple with 1:01 to play to make it a 74-72 contest.
• Newman missed a layup for WPI and Neumann then fired up another triple that missed with 0:15 to go and Reidy buried a pair of free throws with 0:11 remaining as the Engineers prevailed 76-72.

Inside the Box Score

• Clark made 24 shots, grabbed 34 rebounds, dished out 11 assists, and forced 10 turnovers.
• John registered a double-double with 15 points and 13 rebounds, which went down as his second double-double of the season.
• Neumann netted a team-high 19 points and connected on a team-leading five three-pointers.
• Trace Clark also reached double-figures with 10 points.
• Pridgen added nine points, nine rebounds, and four assists.

What's Next
The Cougars will return to the court on Wednesday, December 31 when they travel to and close out non-conference play at No. 24 Tufts beginning at 1:00 p.m.