Men's Basketball Defeats Johnson & Wales in Conference Opener

CHICOPEE, Mass. - The Elms College Men's Basketball kicked off the 2025 calendar hosting Johnson & Wales University in a Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) Opener Saturday afternoon at Picknelly Arena.

BASICS
Score: Elms College 82 | Johnson & Wales University 75
Records: Blazers 1-11, 1-0 (GNAC) | Wildcats 10-1, 0-1 (GNAC)

HOW IT HAPPENED

Johnson & Wales would take the first shot of the game, but graduate student forward Neilon Bridgeman (Brooklyn, N.Y.) would make the block, but the Wildcats would score a layup quickly. In their next two positions, Elms would score five points, after Bridgeman would score a layup and a three-point shot by sophomore guard Andrew Ciaglo (Hadley, Mass.), assisted by junior forward RJ Mayfield (Springfield, Mass.). The two conference foes would trade baskets, including a free throw by junior guard Aden Goffe (New Haven, Conn.), a steal from junior guard/forward Max Rolnick (Vaughan, Ontario), that would lead into a second three-pointer by Ciaglo, and a defensive play by Goffe, creating a steal to breakaway and drive to the hoop for a layup. In their next possession, the Blazers would drive their way down to the Wildcats' end and senior guard/forward Aaron Sanchez (the Bronx, N.Y.) would connect with Ciaglo for his third three-pointer of the game. As the first half continued, JWU would try to create their own offensive opportunities, but the Elms defense would hold strong, including a steal by junior center/guard/forward Edgardo Jacob Cancel (Northampton, Mass.) where he would also score on a three-point play, after a breakaway layup, drawing the foul, and making the free throw attempt. The Wildcats would briefly take the lead, 18-17, but Cancel would connect with Sanchez for a three-point shot to take back the lead for the Blazers. As the clock wound down to the final minutes of the opening half, the two sides would continue to battle for the lead, including a pair of three-point shots by senior guard Kishaun Cole (Sleepy Hollow, N.Y.), a block and a three-pointer by senior forward/center Addison Phifer (Hadley, Mass.), a tip-in layup from Sanchez, a jump shot by Mayfield, a steal and a jumpshot by Bridgeman, and a layup, a free throw, and a steal from Goffe, would assist Elms gain the lead going into the halftime break, 39-28.

The second half would begin with the Blazers generating two steals, with the first by Goffe that would lead into a pair of free throws from Mayfield, and the second by Mayfield that would lead into a three-point shot by Ciaglo, assisted by Rolnick. After a pair of free throws by Johnson & Wales, Ciaglo would draw a foul and would make three free throw attempts to extend the Elms lead to 17-points, 47-30, and would make a steal on the seconds later. On their next possession, the Wildcats would try to make a layup, but Bridgeman would make another block, collect the rebound, and breakaway from the crowd to score a layup. As the second half continued, Sanchez would make a pair of free throws, Cole would connect with Ciaglo for a three-point shot, followed by a three-pointer by Sanchez, assisted by Goffe, along with a jump shot from Goffe, but JWU would slowly add baskets to bring the score back to 14-points. Cole, Mayfield, and Goffe would make a combined eight free throws, followed by a steal by Cole to breakaway and score a layup, along with a pair of blocks and a layup by Mayfield, a block from Goffe, and an additional three-point shot from Ciaglo. As the final minutes began to wind down on the scoreboard, the Wildcats would continue their efforts to regain momentum in the game, but Elms would score six free throws in the final minute of play, to defeat Johnson & Wales to secure their first victory of the season, 82-75, in conference play.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

• Ciaglo - 23 points, a rebound, and a steal.

• Goffe - 14 points, seven rebounds, six assists, three steals, and a block.

• Cole - 14 points, three rebounds, an assist, and a steal.

• Sanchez - 10 points, two rebounds, and an assist.

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

• Bridgeman - seven points, four rebounds, two blocks, an assist, and a steal.

• Cancel - three points, an assist, and a steal.

• Phifer - three points, three rebounds, and a block.

• With this win, Coach Christopher Piscioneri would earn his first career collegiate win as a head coach.

UP NEXT: The Elms College Men's Basketball team will travel to Nashua, N.H. to take on Rivier University in a conference matchup on Tuesday, January 7th at 6 pm.

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