Men's Hoops Lose a Tough Battle to the Blue Jays in Final Regular Season Road Contest

WEST HARTFORD, Conn. - The Elms College Men's Basketball traveled to the University of Saint Joseph, Conn. for their final road regular season Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) matchup on Saturday afternoon.

BASICS
Score: Elms College 66 | University of Saint Joseph, Conn. 84
Records: Blazers 5-18, 5-7 (GNAC) | Blue Jays 17-6, 11-1 (GNAC)

HOW IT HAPPENED

The conference matchup would begin with the two foes scoring four baskets, including a pair of jump shots from junior forward RJ Mayfield (Springfield, Mass.) and senior guard/forward Aaron Sanchez (the Bronx, N.Y.), but with a three-pointer by USJ, the Blue Jays would take the early 5-4 lead. The two sides would show strong defensive efforts, not allowing a basket for three minutes. Sophomore guard Andrew Ciaglo (Hadley, Mass.) would create a steal that would lead to junior forward Adam Sarlan (Chicopee, Mass.) to draw a foul and take a trip to the free throw line, making one basket to tie the game. Shortly thereafter, sophomore guard Jaiden Lopez (Lebanon, Conn.) would connect with Ciaglo for a three-pointer to take the lead, followed by a three-point shot from USJ, but a layup by Mayfield would keep the Blazers ahead of their conference foe. The Blue Jays offense would continue to pressure Elms, scoring an additional seven points to take over offensively, but the Blazers would not be ignored, with a pair of free throws by senior forward/center Addison Phifer (Hadley, Mass.), a layup and a three-point shot by junior center/guard/forward Edgardo Jacob Cancel (Northampton, Mass.), a pair of layups from Sanchez, steals by Ciaglo and Sarlan, a three-point shot and a jump shot from Mayfield, but USJ would hold on to their lead going into the halftime break, 33-26.

The Blue Jays would be the first to score first, making four baskets, but Sarlan would make a layup and a pair of free throws, followed by a layup from Ciaglo, a three-point shot by Mayfield, and a free throw by Lopez, along with a steal by Sarlan. As USJ offense would continue to add to their lead, the Elms offense would continue their efforts to cut down the Blue Jays' lead with three-pointers by Mayfield and Ciaglo, layups by Phifer, Lopez, Sanchez, Cancel, graduate student forward Neilon Bridgeman (Brooklyn, N.Y.), and sophomore Lawton Ackah-Yensu (Cape Coast, Ghana), jump shots by Sanchez and first year Daniel Villanueva (Seymour, Conn.), and free throws by Ciaglo and Cancel, along with steals by Ciaglo and Mayfield. Even with the late efforts, USJ would maintain their lead until the final whistle, defeating the Blazers 84-66.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

• Mayfield - 15 points, three rebounds, two assists, and a steal.

• Ciaglo - 14 points, five assists, three steals, and a rebound.

• Sanchez - 14 rebounds, 10 points, and an assist.

• Cancel - nine points and four rebounds.

• Sarlan - five points, two steals, and a rebound.

• Phifer - four points and two rebounds.

• Lopez - three points, two rebounds, and two assists.

• Ackah-Yensu - two points, two rebounds, and an assist.

• Bridgeman - two points and three rebounds.

• Villanueva - two points and a rebound.

UP NEXT: The Elms College Men's Basketball team will host Anna Maria College in a conference matchup on Tuesday, February 18th at 7 pm at Picknelly Arena.

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