Clark 74, WPI 68

Box Score            

Cambridge, MA ---  WPI Men's Basketball's quest for the 2010 NEWMAC Tournament title ended Sunday afternoon with a 74-68 loss to fifth-seeded Clark in the conference's championship game played at MIT.  With the win, the Cougars secure an automatic berth in the upcoming NCAA Division III Tournament while WPI holds out hope for at-large bid and the opportunity to play in its seventh straight NCAA Tournament.

Trailing by five with just over three and a half minutes to go, Ben Etten (Hollis, NH) was able to bring WPI within two on a conventional 3-point play. However, Brian Vayda (Sturbridge, MA) responded by canning a pair of free throws on the ensuing possession and making a long three-pointer in transition, to put Clark on top, 67-60. The Cougars would make seven-of-ten from the line in the final minute to preserve the win.

The contest was tight throughout, as the teams combined for seven lead changes and four ties. Clark went up by as many as 12, early in the first half, before WPI brought the deficit back to six at the intermission. A 6-1 run midway through the second gave the Engineers their first lead since the opening minutes. Clark would respond by going on an 8-1 spurt, including a pair of trifectas by Jack Minister (Manchester, England) and Slader Lyell (Portsmouth, RI), to turn a two-point deficit into a five point lead, which it would not relinquish. 

Senior Mark Alexander (Providence, RI) poured in a game-high 21 points, including five free throws down the stretch.  Minister finished with 18 points and a team-high six boards while Vayda pitched in 13 points, five rebounds and three assists.

Three WPI players finished in double-figures, including Etten and Jeffery Robinson (Granby, CT), who each had a team-high 18. Robinson also had a game-best, nine rebounds from his guard position. Kyle Nadeau (Webster, MA) led the Engineers with eight assists.

Clark (16-12) knocked down 10 three-pointers, including four-of-six by Minister and two-of-three from Vayda, and the Cougars assisted on 17 of their 23 made field goals. WPI (20-7) held a 34-30 edge on the glass and shot 50.9% from the field but made just 10-of-17 from the charity stripe.

Major Portions of Release Courtesy MIT Sports Information