Box Score Springfield, MA -- Justin Molen (Newark, MA) and Tao Schreiber (Pompano Beach, FL) combined for 23 of WPI's 37 second-half points, and the Engineers held host Springfield scoreless for a critical 6:53 stretch late in the game, as the Crimson and Gray defeated the Pride 66–54 in a NEWMAC men's basketball contest on Tuesday evening.
 
WPI, which is receiving votes in the latest D3hoops.com Top 25 and is ranked second in the debut NCAA Region II rankings, improves to 16–4 overall and 9–2 in conference play. The Engineers remain atop the NEWMAC standings by one game, as Babson (86–60 over Coast Guard) and Salve Regina (75–70 over Clark) both earned victories to stay within striking distance.

Springfield falls to 8–13 overall and 6–6 in NEWMAC action.
 
It initially appeared to be business as usual for the conference's top-ranked scoring offense, as Nathan Bledsoe (San Antonio, TX) buried a long three-pointer just 13 seconds into the game. That basket, however, proved to be the Engineers' lone triple of the half until the final 61 seconds, when Tim Reidy (Needham, MA) knocked down a three coming out of a timeout. The late make sent the Engineers into the locker room with a 29–27 advantage.
 
Despite offensive struggles, the Crimson and Gray forced nine turnovers in the opening 20 minutes and received a spark off the bench, with Jack Bleier (Victor, NY) and Oliver Hibbard (East Lyme, CT) contributing six points apiece.

Bledsoe knocked down an early second-half three to give WPI a 37–33 advantage, but a jumper by Josiah Evely (Toronto, Ontario) sparked a 10–3 run by the host Pride. The surge was highlighted by transition layups from Josh Hartley (Brooklyn, NY) and John Paulino (New Bedford, MA), pushing Springfield in front, 41–37.

A bucket by Campbell tied the game at 44–44, before Molen converted a driving layup off a feed from  Bleier to put the Engineers back on top, 46–44, a lead the visitors would not relinquish the rest of the way. WPI later built a five-point cushion after J.R. Newman (Havertown, PA) sank a pair of free throws, and Molen's three-pointer four minutes later capped a nine-point run that extended the lead to 62–50 with under three minutes remaining.

Over the final seven minutes, Springfield went 0-for-4 from the field, committed three turnovers, and made three free throws.

Molen shot 6-for-9 from the field, scoring 12 of his 14 points after halftime, while Schreiber added nine of his 11 points in the second half and finished with six rebounds off the bench. The Engineers received a balanced scoring effort overall, with six players finishing with between six and eight points.

Newman pulled down eight rebounds and joined Hibbard with three steals apiece, while Molen also dished out five assists.

The hosts were led by Zachary Campbell (Philadelphia, PA), who registered ten points. Paulino filled the stat columns with seven points, five rebounds, three assists, two blocks and a steal while Hartley registered a team-high six rebounds.

WPI returns home for the first time in February on Saturday, hosting Salve Regina at 2pm. Springfield opens a two-game road trip the same day with a 1pm contest at Babson.