MCLA goes cold in loss to Wesleyan (CT)

North Adams, MA- The Wesleyan (CT) Men's basketball team used a balanced scoring attack and their defense held MCLA to just 25 points in the second half as they pulled away from the Trailblazers to earn a 76-55 victory in the Amsler Campus Center.  With the win, the Cardinals improve to 5-2 on the season.  MCLA suffers their fourth straight loss and is now 1-4.

The opening half was played at a fast pace that featured eight ties and four lead changes.  Neither team led by more than six points, with MCLA led for much of the half.  After Wesleyan regained the lead at 20-17, MCLA would rattle off a 10-1 run to take their largest first half lead at 27-21.  The Cardinals would battle back though outscoring MCLA 15-3 over the final 5:50 to take a 36-30 lead into the locker room.

Wesleyan shot 45% in the opening half while the Trailblazers made 35% of their first half attempts.  MCLA was also hampered by 10 turnovers in the half.

Wesleyan scored the first six points out of halftime to increase their lead to 42-30 and they never looked back.  MCLA would get as close as six points on a Khalil Paul layup with 13:53 to play, and again at 55-49 with 9:28 left on a Careem Kirksey triple.

From there, it was all Wesleyan as their defense held MCLA to just six points over the closing stretch and two field goals.  Wesleyan used a 15-4 spurt to open up a seventeen point lead at 70-53 and cruised from there.

The Cardinals balanced attack placed four players in double figures.  Rashid Epps led the victors with 14 points, including 12 in the decisive second half.  Jack Mackey did most of his damage in the opening half of play and finished the game with 14 points as well.  BJ Davis collected 10 points, all of which came in the second half and Joe Edmonds ended with 10 as well.

For MCLA, Ruben DelRosario led the Trailblazers with 14 points on 6-8 shooting.  He added 4 assists.  Adam Conquest ended with 14 points and 7 rebounds.  Paul chipped in with 11 points in the defeat.

Wesleyan held MCLA to just 33% shooting on the night.  The Trailblazers were a dismal 4-23 from beyond the arc.  The Cardinals shot a solid 50% in the victory.

MCLA will battle RPI in the opening contest of the Tri State Shootout on Saturday afternoon hosted by Southern Vermont.