Men’s Basketball Powers Past Wheelock College, 95-77

CHICOPEE, Mass. – Elms College guard Andre French (Torrington, Conn.) tied for the game high in points with 23 and the Blazers shot 50.8-percent from the floor to help secure a 95-77 victory over Wheelock College in Tuesday evening's New England Collegiate Conference (NECC) men's basketball game at Picknelly Arena.

With the win, Elms has now won five straight and improves to 12-10 on the season, 10-3 in league action. Wheelock moves to 1-18 overall, 0-11 in conference play.

Elms was efficient at both ends of the court hitting on 50.8-percent of its shots led by a 9 for 20 effort from French which included four treys. Senior forward Isaiah Odunlami (Providence, R.I.) was 9 of 12 from the free throw line and 5 of 7 from the field en route to 19 points, while junior forward Kenny Lockett (Atlanta, Ga.) picked up 18 points and nine boards.

Sophomore guard Derek Murphy (Columbia, Md.) added a double-double of 12 points and 11 rebounds, dished out four assists and recorded four steals, Odunlami added four assists, and French notched five steals to help secure the win.

The Blazers outscored Wheelock, 50-18 in the paint and had 11 points on the fast-break while also hitting on 43.8-percent of its attempts from beyond the arc. Elms also won the battle on the boards, 51-31.

Wheelock's Nicholas Fenton (East Hartford, Conn.) was excellent in defeat as he poured in 15 points on 5 of 12 shooting from the floor and dished out 11 of the Wildcats' 19 assists in the contest. Derek Fournier (Johnston, R.I.) was equally impressive swishing seven three-pointers en route to a tie for the game in points (23).

Joe Reedy (Orlando, Fla.) finished with 17 points highlighted by a 7 of 15 effort from the charity stripe, while Anthony Williams (White Plaines, N.Y.) netted 12 points on 6 of 11 shooting. Wheelock shot 40.3-percent from the field and 34.5-percent from long distance in the losing effort.

In the first half, Elms netted the first six points of the game but Wheelock kept it close, pulling to within one (13-12) when Williams made a jumper at the 13:14 mark.

With the score set at 26-24 in favor of the Blazers, Elms went on a 15-2 run that featured a pair of French treys and one each from Murphy and senior forward Dustin Trail (East Hartford, Conn.) to set the score at 41-26 with 3:20 to play in the frame.

Wheelock answered scoring 10 of the next 14 points including a tip-in at the buzzer by Williams to pull the Wildcats to within nine at the break (45-36).

In the second stanza, Elms maintained a steady advantage before it began to pull away with 8:50 to play in the contest.

Leading 69-59, the Blazers went on a 21-10 run to post a 90-69 lead with 3:20 to play in the game. Murphy and French each hit a three-pointer during the stretch and Odunlami capped the run with a pair of free throws.

From there, the Blazers pulled away to a 95-77 victory.

Trail finished with eight points off the bench, while junior guard Tyler Scott (Salem, Ore.) swatted two shots for the Blazers.

Elms returns to NECC action on Thursday, February 6 when it travels to Regis College for a 7:00 p.m. tilt in Weston, Mass.