Men's Basketball Loses to Sage in Season Opener

CHICOPEE, Mass. - The Elms College Men's Basketball tipped off their 2024-25 season at home hosting Sage College in a non-conference action Saturday afternoon at Picknelly Arena.

BASICS
Score: Elms College 52 | Russell Sage College 74
Records: Blazers 0-1, 0-0 (GNAC) | Gators 1-0, 0-0 (Empire 8)

HOW IT HAPPENED
Sage would begin the season opener scoring the first four points, but Elms would quickly respond by a three-pointer from sophomore guard Andrew Ciaglo (Hadley, Mass.), assisted by junior Edgardo Jacob Cancel (Northampton, Mass.). The Gators would add a three-pointer of their own to increase their lead. The Blazers would then see back-to-back steals by Ciaglo, the second would see Ciaglo make a breakaway, miss a layup, but graduate student guard Teron Griffin (Harlem, N.Y.) make the rebound and score. The two opposing teams would trade possession until senior guard Kishaun Cole (Sleepy Hollow, N.Y.) would connect with Ciaglo for his second three-pointer of the half to tie the game 8-8. Minutes later, Cole would find a pass from junior Aden Goffe (New Haven, Conn.) for a three-pointer to take the lead 11-8. Two possessions later, the pair would connect again and see Cole make a second three-pointer to increase the lead. As the half would continue, Elms would see a steal and layup from junior forward Adam Sarlan (Chicopee, Mass.), a block from graduate student forward Neilon Bridgeman (Brooklyn, N.Y.), a steal from junior forward RJ Mayfield (Springfield, Mass.), and a steal along with back-to-back jump shots from Cole. As the clock winded down for the end of first half, the Blazers would see a three-pointer by Goffe and a layup by Cole, but Sage would hold their lead 34-27.

The second half would begin with the Gators taking the first shot, but Mayfield would make the block to gain possession for Elms. Sage would extend their lead, but Mayfield would make another block after another layup attempt. As the Gators continued to add to their lead, the Blazers would take shots that would not end successfully until Cole would connect with Ciaglo for a three-point attempt, followed by a layup from Ciaglo to cut their deficit to ten-points, 42-32. As the half continued, the Elms defense would generate a steal by first year forward Daniel Villanueva (Seymour, Conn.), a block and steal by Cancel, a block from Bridgeman, and a steal from sophomore Lawton Ackah-Yensu (Cape Coast, Ghana). Even though there would be short stints of offense which included a pair of three-pointers and a jumpshot by Goffe, a three-pointer from Ciaglo, and a handful of baskets from Cole and Villanueva, but Sage would come out with the season opening victory over Elms 74-52.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

• Ciaglo - 16 points, three steals, and two rebounds

• Cole - 14 points, three assists, and one steal

• Goffe - 11 points, five assists, three steals, and two rebounds

UP NEXT: The Elms College Men's Basketball team will travel to Plymouth State University in a non-conference game on Monday, November 11th at 2 pm.

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