Men's Basketball Defeats Mitchell in Big GNAC Home Victory

CHICOPEE, Mass. - The Elms College Men's Basketball team hosted Mitchell College in a Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) matchup Tuesday evening at Picknelly Arena.

BASICS
Score: Elms College 66 | Mitchell College 63
Records: Blazers 3-13, 3-2 (GNAC) | Mariners 10-6, 4-3 (GNAC)

HOW IT HAPPENED

The two conference foes would begin the contest by trading possession, including a strong defensive showing by Elms with the assistance of graduate student forward Neilon Bridgeman (Brooklyn, N.Y.) blocking a jump shot. Seconds later, junior guard Aden Goffe (New Haven, Conn.) would find an open senior guard/forward Aaron Sanchez (the Bronx, N.Y.) for a layup, making the first basket of the game. Mitchell would respond quickly and would begin a six-point rally by both teams, including a second layup and a tip-in from Sanchez, but the Mariners would take the lead 8-6. The Blazers defense would continue to hold off their opposing offense, with the help of a block by senior forward/center Addison Phifer (Hadley, Mass.), as both offenses would be unable to find the basket. The Elms offense would score first and would take back the lead, after a pair of successful free throws by Phifer and another layup from Sanchez, after receiving a pass from junior center/guard/forward Edgard Jacob Cancel (Northampton, Mass.). Mitchell would add a layup to tie the game, but Phifer would connect with Cancel for a layup to regain the lead. The two sides would continue to trade blows, with Cancel making a pair of free throws, junior forward Adam Sarlan (Chicopee, Mass.) making a layup and two free throws, sophomore guard Jaiden Lopez (Lebanon, Conn.) making two free throws, and Sanchez with a tip-in to bring the contest to 22-21, Elms. The Mariners would tie the game, after making one free throw, but the Blazers offense would make their way down the court with Goffe connecting with junior guard/forward Max Rolnick (Vaughan, Ontario) for a wide open three-point shot in the corner. After an unsuccessful attempt by their opponent, Sarlan would collect the rebound pass to Goffe and he would make a cross court pass to Rolnick for a second three-pointer in the corner. Elms would continue to roll after a layup and tip-in by Sanchez, along with a steal from junior forward RJ Mayfield (Springfield, Mass.), to go into the halftime break with a 32-28 lead.

The second half would begin with a similar narrative as the first half, with the conference opponents trading baskets, with layups from Goffe and sophomore guard Andrew Ciaglo (Hadley, Mass.). In their next two possessions, Sanchez would connect with Ciaglo for his first three-point shot of the game, followed by a layup by Bridgeman. The Blazers would continue to hold strong on both ends of the court, with Mayfield and Goffe each recording blocks, Ciaglo making three layups and two three-point shots, Phifer making a three-pointer in the corner and a block, and Cancel adding a tip-in. Mitchell would continue their efforts to cut down the Elms lead, but a pair of free throws by Lopez, a block by Brigeman, and two free throws and a steal from Goffe, would seem to hold off the Mariners, but the Mitchell offense would tie the game 62-62 with two minutes remaining. The Blazers defense would continue to hold strong, with a block from Mayfield, to keep the game tied. With 31 seconds remaining with three seconds remaining on the shot clock, Goffe would take the inbound for Elms, Mayfield would tip the ball to Ciaglo and he would drain a three-point shot to take the lead for the home team. Sanchez and Mitchell would both make one free throw, but the Blazers would walk away with the victory, 66-63.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

• Ciaglo - 20 points, two rebounds, and two assists.

• Sanchez - 15 points, ten rebounds, and an assist.

• Goffe - 17 rebounds, four points, four assists, two steals, and a block.

• Bridgeman - eight rebounds, two points, two blocks, and an assist.

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

• Cancel - six points, three rebounds, and an assist.

• Rolnick - six points and a rebound.

• Phifer - five points, two rebounds, two assists, and two blocks.

• Sarlan - four points and three rebounds.

• Lopez - four points and a rebound.

UP NEXT: The Elms College Men's Basketball team will travel to Standish, Maine to face Saint Joseph's College of Maine in a conference matchup on Saturday, January 25th at 3 pm.

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