Men's Basketball Outlasts Becker

Chris Kendrick (@CKendrick86)

LEICESTER, Mass. – The Elms College men's basketball team hung on to defeat host Becker College, 74-65, in a New England Collegiate Conference (NECC) matchup at Leicester Gymnasium Tuesday night. The Blazers improve to 5-7 on the season, and 4-1 in league play, while Becker drops to 2-1 in conference, and 5-7 overall.

The Blazers jumped to an early 13-2 lead in the opening four minutes of play behind seven points from senior Jerry Buchanon (Windsor, Conn.). The Hawks kept the game close as sophomore Samuel Durodola (Rosedale, N.Y.) netted seven points as part of a 9-4 run until a trey from Elms sophomore Andre Wright (Danbury, Conn.) and layup from sophomore Devonte Marshall (Springfield, Mass.) regained a double-digit advantage, 22-11, with 11:31 on the clock. Trailing 33-23 at the 4:15 mark, the Hawks closed the half on an 11-5 run, capped off by a buzzer-beating three-pointer from junior Kyle Credle (Queens, N.Y.) to trim the Blazers lead to 38-34 at the half.

A three-point play from Buchanon ignited a 16-6 run by Elms over the opening seven minutes of the frame. The Blazers maintained a double-digit advantage, and a three-point play from senior Jamaal Gary (Bloomfield, Conn.) gave the Blazers their largest lead of the game, 70-52, with 8:11 to play. Becker held Elms scoreless over the next five minutes of play as the Hawks whittled their deficit down to single digits. Elms kept the Hawks at bay behind jumpers from Marshall and Buchanon in the final minutes to capture the 74-65 win.

The Blazers were paced the duo of Buchanon and junior Symon Smith (Oklahoma City, Okla.) with 21 points apiece. Buchanon shot 9-of-15 from the floor with a season-high seven assists and five steals, while Smith was 3-of-3 from three-point with four rebounds and two assists. Marshall added nine points and six rebounds off the bench, and junior Conny Ihearahu (Largo, Md.) hauled in a game-high 12 rebounds with eight points. Gary and Wright chipped in six points each in the win.

Durodola led the Hawks with a double-double effort of 19 points and a game-high 12 rebounds. Credle had 11 points, a team-high four assists and three rebounds, while senior Reginald Finney (Ansonia, Conn.) and senior Rashaun Liggon (Elizabeth, N.J.) tallied nine points apiece.

The Hawks controlled Elms on the glass, 37-30, during the contest. Elms converted 51.7% (30-of-58) from the floor, including 43.8% (7-of-16) from three-point range, and 70% (7-of-10) from the free throw line. Becker shot 41.9% (26-of-62) from the field, 18.2% (2-of-11) from three-point, and 84.6% (11-of-13) from the charity stripe.

The Blazers will look to continue their winning ways as they welcome Lesley University to Picknelly Arena for an NECC tilt Thursday at 6:00 p.m. Becker travels to Regis (Mass.) for a conference contest Thursday at 6:00 p.m.

ELMS BASKETBALL