Men's Basketball Overcame in Final Seconds by Southern Maine Seawolves to Wrap Up 2025

SOUTH PORTLAND, Maine - The Elms College Men's Basketball team traveled to Southern Maine Community College for a non-conference game on Saturday afternoon.

BASICS
Score: Elms College 62 | Southern Maine Community College 65
Records: Blazers 6-5, 0-0 (GNAC) | Seawolves 8-5, 3-5 (YSCC - USCAA)

HOW IT HAPPENED

The non-conference matchup would start with Elms scoring first, when senior forward Adam Sarlan (Chicopee, Mass.) would make a layup. Southern Maine would make a layup of their own to tie the game, but the Blazers would answer quickly when first year guard Jamie Lawson (Charlotte, N.C.) would connect a pass to junior guard DJ Watkins (Union, N.J.) for a three-point shot. The Seawolves add a pair of layups to take the lead, but senior forward/guard RJ Mayfield (Springfield, Mass.) would make a layup, assisted by Sarlan. SMCC would take back the lead after making two three-point shots, but with the assistance of a three-pointer and a steal by Lawson and a three-point shot and an assist from junior guard Andrew Ciaglo (Hadley, Mass.) would give Elms the lead momentarily. Unfortunately, the Seawolves would respond with a layup to regain a one-point lead. As the opening half continued, the two opposing sides would trade possession with Southern Maine adding to their lead, but the Blazers would try to create some offensive momentum after sophomore forward/guard Daniel Villanueva (Seymour, Conn.) would record a steal that would lead to a layup by senior center/guard/forward Edgardo Jacob Cancel (Northampton, Mass.), along with a pair of free throws from Cancel, and a three-point shot by Villanueva, to gain the lead, 20-18. As the clock wound down, Elms would see a steal by Lawson, Watkins record a three-point play, a jump shot, layups from Villanueva and Mayfield, and a tip-in by Cancel. Unfortunately, the Seawolves would control the narrative for the remainder of the first half and go into the halftime break with a 36-31 lead.

SMCC would come out of the halftime break scoring on their first possession. The Blazers would continue their efforts to regain the lead with a jump shot from Ciaglo, Lawson making a three-point shot, and a layup by Mayfield, tying the game 38-38, but the Seawolves would make their next five shots to regain their lead momentarily. As the second half continued, Elms would rally themselves to tie the game 50-50, seeing Mayfield make a pair of free throws and a steal, Cancel add a pair of layups, a layup and a steal from Watkins, and Jordan make a layup, a steal, and a pair of free throws. The two opposing teams would continue their battle for the lead, with first year forward Jaedon Bogar (Aubrey, Texas) and Mayfield each making a layup, along with a pair of steals by Mayfield and Lawson. As the clock began to wind down towards the final minutes of play, the Blazers would continue to fight for the lead, with Watkins making a three-point shot, Cancel blocking an opposition layup attempt, collecting the rebound and would record the layup on the opposite side of the court. The closing minutes would see the two opposing teams trade possession and baskets, with Elms scoring on a three-point shot by Mayfield, after receiving a pass from Watkins, to take a two-point lead, followed by a steal by Sarlan. Unfortunately, Southern Maine would make a layup and a three-point shot to secure the victory over the Blazers, 65-62.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

• Watkins -  13 points, ten rebounds, two assists, and a steal.

• Mayfield - 13 points, two rebounds, two steals, and an assist.

• Cancel -  12 points, five rebounds, a block, and an assist.

• Lawson - six points, five rebounds, three steals, and two assists.

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

• Sarlan - five rebounds, three assists, two points, a steal, and a block.

• Villanueva -  five points, a rebound, and a steal.

• Jordan - four points, two rebounds, a steal, and an assist.

• Bogar - two points and two rebounds.

• Dunlap - two rebounds.

UP NEXT: The Elms College Men's Basketball team will pause the season for the winter break and return to action when they travel to Hanover, N.H. for a midseason exhibition game on Thursday, January 1st against Dartmouth College at 1 pm.

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