Men's Basketball Snaps Losing Streak with 70-56 Victory Over MCLA

NORTH ADAMS, Mass. - The Elms College Men's Basketball team traveled to Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts for a non-conference game on Sunday afternoon.

BASICS
Score: Elms College 70 | Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts 56
Records: Blazers 6-4, 0-0 (GNAC) | Trailblazers 2-5, 0-0 (MASCAC)

HOW IT HAPPENED

The two non-conference foes would start the contest battling for the early lead, with Elms capitalizing on a layup from senior forward/guard RJ Mayfield (Springfield, Mass.) and junior guard Andrew Ciaglo (Hadley, Mass.) hitting a jump shot, but MCLA would make a three-point shot and a jump shot for the first lead. As the opening half continued, Mayfield and junior guard DJ Watkins (Union, N.J.) would both record a steal to try to create some offensive momentum, which would be followed by a layup by Watkins and Mayfield making a pair of jump shots moments later to take the lead, the later would be assisted by Watkins. The Blazers offense would continue to maintain their lead with the help from two three-point shots by Ciaglo and another jump shot from Mayfield. Midway through the first half, Elms would record a steal and a block by first year guard Jamie Lawson (Charlotte, N.C.), a pair of layups from senior forward Adam Sarlan (Chicopee, Mass.), and two three-point shots by Watkins, after receiving passes from senior center/guard/forward Edgardo Jacob Cancel (Northampton, Mass.) and Lawson. The Trailblazers would score to try to keep the score close, but the Blazers would continue to add to their lead, with assistance from layups by first year forward/center Rayquan Anderson (Waterbury, Conn.) and Mayfield, a three-point shot from Ciaglo, successful free throw attempts by Watkins, and Mayfield blocking a layup. MCLA would score five points in the final minute of the first half, but Elms would go into the halftime break with a ten point lead, 37-27.

The second half would begin by the two intrastate opponents trading possession early, until Mayfield would block another layup and would lead to a three-pointer from Ciaglo. Watkins would draw a foul and make a free throw shortly thereafter, and would connect a pass to Ciaglo for another three-point shot two possessions later. Seconds later, Watkins would take another trip to the free throw line and would make one of his two attempts, to help extend their lead to 45-32. The Trailblazers would continue to nip at the Blazers' heels, but the Elms offense would continue to add to their lead, with help from a layup and free throw by Watkins, Ciaglo making a pass to first year forward Jaedon Bogar (Aubrey, Texas) for a layup, Cancel would sink a jump shot, a three-point shot, and a layup, along with Mayfield and Lawson each adding a steal, expanding their lead to 57-39. As the second half continued, the opposing teams would trade possession, with MCLA adding a three-point shot, but the Blazers would answer back with a fifth three-pointer from Ciaglo, assisted by Watkins, a pair of layups by Mayfield, assisted by Cancel and Watkins, and Cancel would add a jump shot and a steal. As the clock began to wind down to its final minutes, the Trailblazers would bring the score to within 14 points, after making two jump shots and a slam dunk, but Watkins would make two jump shots to secure the 70-56 road victory for Elms.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

• Ciaglo - 20 points, three assists, and two rebounds.

• Watkins - 19 points, six rebounds, five assists, and a steal.

• Mayfield - 14 points, seven rebounds, two steals, two blocks, and an assist.

• Cancel -  nine points, six rebounds, two assists, and a steal.

• Lawson - six rebounds, two steals, a block, and an assist.

• Sarlan - four points and three rebounds.

• Anderson - three rebounds, two points, and an assist.

• Rolnick - three rebounds.

• Bogar -  two points, two rebounds, and two assists.

UP NEXT: The Elms College Men's Basketball team will travel to Portland, Maine for a non-conference game against Southern Maine Community College on Saturday, December 13th at 3 pm.

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