Men's Hoops Come Up Short in Road Contest at Plymouth State

PLYMOUTH, N.H. - The Elms College Men's Basketball hit the road as they faced off against Plymouth State University in a non-conference game Monday afternoon.

BASICS
Score: Elms College 58 | Plymouth State University 81
Records: Blazers 0-2, 0-0 (GNAC) | Panthers 1-0, 0-0 (LEC)

HOW IT HAPPENED

The opening half would begin with the two interstate opponents trading possession in the first five minutes of play, but the Elms defense would see a steal from graduate guard Teron Griffin (Harlem, N.Y.) and a block by junior forward RJ Mayfield (Springfield, Mass.). Plymouth State would be the first score, after a steal led to a breakaway layup. Minutes later, junior guard Aden Goffe (New Haven, Conn.) would collect a steal, a defensive rebound, and a layup, assisted by Griffin, to tie the game at 2-2. A minute later, the Panthers would extend their lead after scoring off a pair of three-point shots, Goffe would respond shortly later draining a jump shot, but PSU would again extend their lead after a three-pointer was made. The Blazers would continue to be held to their own end of the court, but steals by Griffin and graduate forward Neilon Bridgeman (Brooklyn, N.Y.), four free throws by senior guard Kishaun Cole (Sleepy Hollow, N.Y.), and a three-point shot by Goffe would bring Elms within four points, with the score being 15-11. Junior Edgardo Jacob Cancel (Northampton, Mass.) would make a steal and then Cole would make a layup, but Plymouth State would continue to add to their lead. As the first half would wind down, the Panthers would continue to put pressure on the Elms defense, but the Blazers would see a block from Bridgeman and baskets Griffin and Goffe would help, but the PSU would keep their 15-point lead going into the halftime break, 37-22.

The second half would start with a three-point shot made by sophomore guard Andrew Ciaglo (Hadley, Mass.), after finding a pass from Griffin. The Panthers would score an additional seven points before Griffin would find an open senior guard/forward Aaron Sanchez (the Bronx, N.Y.) to drain a three-pointer, followed by a tip-in by Mayfield to bring the deficit to 14-points. Minutes later, Ciaglo would make a steal to gain possession for Elms, then would sink a second three-point shot after receiving a pass from junior guard/forward Max Rolnick (Vaughan, Ontario). Plymouth State would continue to add to their lead, making the game 57-35, but Cole would make a pass to Rolnick to sink a three-pointer to help decrease the differential. Minutes later, PSU would make an attempt at a three-point shot, but Mayfield would make the block to help the Blazers defensively, which would lead to a breakaway layup from Cole and three-pointer by Goffe. The clock would continue to wind down and the Panthers would add to their lead, Elms would see an offensive burst with jump shots by Brideman and Cancel, three-point shots by sophomores guard Jaiden Lopez (Lebanon, Conn.) and forward Lawton Ackah-Yensu (Cape Coast, Ghana), and a layup by first year guard Shawn Rivera (Holyoke, Mass.), but Plymouth State would come out with a 81-58 victory over the Blazers.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

• Goffe - 12 points, seven rebounds, an assist, and a steal.

• Cole - 10 points, four rebounds, and an assist.

• Ciaglo - six points, two rebounds, and a steal.

• Sanchez - five points, five rebounds, and an assist.

• Mayfield - four points, five rebounds, two blocks, an assist, and a steal.

• Griffin - four steals, three assists, two points, and two rebounds.

UP NEXT: The Elms College Men's Basketball team will travel to Framingham State University in a non-conference game on Thursday, November 14th at 4 pm.

--

For continuing coverage of Elms College Athletics, visit www.ecblazers.com and follow the Blazers on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.