Babson Park, MA --- Babson's Timmy O'Toole (Milton, MA) recorded a double-double to help the host Beavers hand nationally-ranked WPI its first defeat of the season, a 71-60 setback inside Staake Gymnasium on Saturday afternoon. 

The Engineers, ranked 11th in the most recent D3hoops.com Top 25, drop to 8-1 on the season and 1-1 in NEWMAC action. Babson evens its records at 4-4 overall and 1-1 in conference play.

Both defenses started strong, holding off either team from scoring for six total possessions, but a free throw by WPI's Nicholas Margetson (Baldwin, NY) dented the scoring column two minutes into the game. The Engineers accounted for the next six points with three layups by different players, but Babson countered this action with a 9-0 run of their own, led by Alex Stoddard (Wellesley, MA) who knocked down back-to-back shots from downtown and added on a free throw, putting the Beavers up by two.

After a tie up basket at 12:29 by the Crimson and Gray's Brett Marelli (Hampton, NH) for a 9-9 score, the hosts would lead the game for the next four minutes by as much as four. Marelli kept the Engineers on the Beavers tails, notching six points, and a three-point play by Tim Reidy (Needham, MA) pushed the visitors back in front, 21-20, with 8:49 to go.

Babson saw a 7-1 run from 7:54 to 5:55, beginning with a step-back three-pointer by Felix Kloman (Ipswich, MA). After a layup by WPI's Aidan Callahan (Rowley, MA) and a free throw and jumper by the Beavers Nate Amado (Hanson, MA) to bring the game score to 30-24, the strong defenses halted the scoring for the next two minutes with a pair of Kloman free throws upped Babson's lead by eight. The first half concluded after some back-and-forth free throw action with a layup by WPI's Marelli sandwiched in the middle, giving the Beavers a 36-28 advantage heading into halftime.

Marelli dominated for the Engineers in the first stanza, notching 6-of-7 field goals on his way to 12 points, four boards and a steal. Reidy added five points and a carom. For the Beavers, Kloman accounted for 14 points, two rebounds and two blocks. Stoddard accumulated 11 points and an assist, and Amado added seven tallies and four boards.

To open the second half, Callahan secured four quick points for the Engineers off two free throws and a steal mid-court to bring it back for a layup. After O'Toole completed a layup for the Beavers to bring the score to 38-32, the strong defenses struck again, holding off any tallies for 2:17, but Amado swooped in after O'Toole saved the ball from a turnover to lift the hosts lead to eight at 40-32 with 16:44 remaining.

Babson saw their largest lead of the game so far at 11 when Kloman knocked down a trey at 13:35. Amado extended the lead once again at 12:13, draining a three-pointer, making the game score 48-34. Another lull in tallies occurred from 12:13 to 8:58, but Kloman broke the scoreless streak with a layup, extending Babson's lead to 16, the highest of the game so far.

Reidy went on a hot streak for the Engineers, draining back-to-back treys to close the gap to 10. The Beavers extended the lead back to 12 when Amado went up for a layup with just over six minutes remaining. Four straight possessions of scoring brough the overall score to 56-45 in favor of the hosts, with a layup by Stoddard and Amado for the Beavers, and a layup by Marelli and a three-pointer by Justin Molen (Newark, DE) for the Engineers. Molen accounted for the next four points with a free throw and a nifty trey. Babson would not let these points go unanswered, with O'Toole and Kloman each adding two points. 

WPI's Reidy and Callahan each added on a shot from behind the arc, but the Beavers made 6-of-6 free throws to keep them ahead by 11. Despite the visitor's best effort, Babson was able to defend their home court and deal the Engineers their first loss, ending the game with a 71-60 victory.

Reidy accounted for 16 points and an assist for the Engineers. Marelli accumulated 14 points and seven boards, Callahan added 12 tallies and four assists and Molen notched 10 points and grabbed eight caroms. For the Beavers, Kloman earned a game-high 21 points, three assists, and three blocks. O'Toole accumulated 14 points and a game-high 15 rebounds on his way to a double-double. Amado tallied 18 points, eight boards and three blocks.

WPI was held to just 34.4% (22-of-64) of field goals on the afternoon, with 28 points in the paint and six fastbreak points. Babson made 20-of-54 (37.0%) of field goals, with 10 second chance points and 17 bench points.

Both teams take a break from conference action for the next few weeks. WPI travels to Connecticut to face Suffolk in the Trinity Holiday Tournament on December 30th at 7:30pm. Babson ventures to Ohio to participate in the Wooster Kiwanis Classic, battling Case Western Reserve on December 29th at 7pm and #13 Wooster on December 30th at 6pm. 

Recap Written by WPI Sports Information Student Assistant Maya Vartabedian '24 '25