Men’s Basketball Downs Clarkson University, 73-61

Box Score

WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. – The Elms College men's basketball team opened Purple and Gold Invitational action with a 73-61 victory over Clarkson University behind a 16-point effort from senior guard Cecil Avant (Southwest Ranches, Fla.) on Sunday, Jan. 2. The Blazers will square off against No. 2 Williams College on Monday at 7:00 p.m.

With the win, Elms improves to 6-3 overall while Clarkson moves to 6-3 on the season. The Golden Knights will take on Westfield State University on Monday at 3:00 p.m.

Elms stormed out to an early 17-6 lead at the 12:15 mark on the strength of four points from senior forward Juan Alverio (Toa Baja, Puerto Rico), three points from sophomore guard Brittain Purcelle (Tarrytown, N.Y.), two points each from senior forward Edgar Martinez (Springfield, Mass.) and junior guard Bryant Corcoran (Wolcott, Conn.) and a three-pointer from both Cecil Avant and junior guard Daniel Gonzalez (East Windsor, Conn.).

Elms built its lead to as many as 14 points at the 9:22 mark (22-8) and again at the 8:38 mark (25-11) of the first period before Clarkson used a 21-5 run capped by a trey from Rey Jefferson (Budd Lake, N.J.) to take a 32-30 advantage with 55 seconds remaining in the opening stanza. Fourteen seconds later, Purcelle converted a layup to even the contest at 32-32 at halftime.

Elms reestablished the lead in the second half and built a seven-point cushion at the 13:34 mark (47-40) before Clarkson responded with an 8-1 run highlighted by three-pointers from Marques Charlton (Deer Park, N.Y.) and Shawn Lasalita (San Diego, Calif.) to even the game at 48-48 with 10:44 to play.

With the score set at 50-50 the Blazers scored 13 of the next 15 points including a string of nine straight to start the span to help post an 11-point 63-52 lead with 4:47 remaining in the contest. Elms extended its lead to 12 points and maintained at least an eight point lead for the remainder of the contest en route to a 73-61 win.

Cecil Avant was 4 of 5 shooting from beyond the arc en route to his team-high 16 points, while Alverio was 4 of 9 from the field to highlight a 14-point output.

Corcoran hauled in a game-best 10 rebounds and finished with eight points while Purcelle and Martinez added eight points each in the winning effort.

Clarkson's Jonathan Hood (Cortlandt Manor, N.Y.) scored a game-best 17 points and totaled a team-high nine rebounds, while Jefferson swished 14 points. Felix Llanos (Queens, N.Y.) and Charlton collected 12 and 10 points respectively in the losing effort for the Golden Knights.