Norton, MA --- Five different WPI men's basketball players tallied between 11 and 13 points as the Engineers utilized a balanced scoring attack and a stifling perimeter defense evening to knock off host Wheaton 68-55 to wrap up the opening round of NEWMAC play on Thursday evening.
 
WPI, winners of seven consecutive contests and ranked 19th in the latest D3hoops.com Top 25, is now 15-2 on the season.  It marks the sixth time in the last 12 seasons played and ninth time in 20 seasons that Chris Bartley's squad has started a campaign 15-2 or better.  The Engineers, the three-time defending NEWMAC regular season champions, complete the first round of conference action with a league-best 7-1, a game ahead of second place and three games ahead of five squads, including Wheaton (9-8 overall), in a five-way tie for third place at 4-4.
 
The Crimson and Gray defense stole the show from the start.  The Lyons scored first on a Dimetri Iafrate (Johnston, RI) bucket on their second possession and then misfired on their next 12 shots from the field and did not score another bucket for over nine minutes as WPI inched out to an 11-3 edge behind five points by Aidan Callahan (Rowley, MA) and four via J.R. Newman (Havertown, PA).  Wheaton was within nine at 28-19 following another Iafrate basket with 2:11 left before the half but Tim Reidy (Needham, MA) spearheaded a late 9-0 Engineer burst with a pair of trifectas before the hosts closed out the half with a Tristan Herry (East Taunton, MA) layup in the final seconds of the half.  The Lyons were 0-16 from behind the 3-point arc before intermission while Callahan and Reidy each poured in 11 points in the opening 20 minutes.
 
WPI extended its advantage to 24 points just over five minutes into the second half and never saw its lead reduced to single digits the rest of the way.  The closest the Lyons would get would be the final margin of 13 points on a Caden Smith (Gorham, ME) 3-pointer with 12 seconds to go.  The bucket will keep the Engineers a point short of moving back into the top 10 nationally in scoring defense.  The Boynton Hillers, led by seniors Callahan, Reidy and Brett Marelli (Hampton, NH), have finished the past three seasons in the top 10 nationally in points allowed per game.
 
Reidy shared game-best scoring honors with 13 points, 11 of which in the opening half.  Justin Molen (Newark, DE) and Newman both tallied 12 points while Callahan and Marelli each finished with 11 and both grabbed seven rebounds.  Molen was a perfect 4-for-4 from the floor, including 3-of-3 from downtown, Callahan handed out six assists and recorded a pair of steals and Nicholas Margetson (Baldwin, NY) hauled in six boards.
 
Eoin Morrissey (Watertown, MA) notched 13 points and 10 rebounds to deliver Wheaton a double-double while Herry amassed nine points.
 
WPI closes out a stretch of three road contests in five dates on Saturday, when it opens the second round of NEWMAC play with a trip to Newport, Rhode Island to tangle with Salve Regina at 7pm.  Ironically, Wheaton heads to Worcester Saturday to square off with Clark.  Tip-off is slated for 4pm.