Paul nets career high 36 points, however #18 WPI bests Trailblazers 84-69
North Adams, MA- MCLA's Khalil Paul had a monster night collecting a career high 36 points, but it wasn't enough to overcome 18th ranked WPI as the Engineers pulled away late in an 84-69 victory over the Trailblazers. With the win, WPI moves to 8-1 on the season while the Trailblazers drop their fifth straight game and sit at 2-6 overall.
Paul was outstanding for MCLA with his 36 points. He shot 12-20 from the floor including a 7-12 performance from beyond the three point line. The senior scored 20 points in the opening half and closed with 16 more in the second before fouling out.
WPI placed five players in double figures led by Aaron Todd's team high 19 points while Clyde Niba did his work at the free throw line going 10-10 from the stripe en route to his 18 points.
The visitors were on the verge of pulling away early in the second half when after Obi Obiora converted a lay in, they were ahead 61-49 with 12:57 left to play. MCLA would mount a comeback sparked by Joe Wiggins as the Trailblazers would outscore WPI 10-1 over the next four minutes of action to cut the margin to just 62-59. The deficit was as close as MCLA would get though as the Engineers responded.
A Sean Doncaster three put them back up six points, and after Paul would convert a pair of freebies on the other end, Doncaster would strike again from deep making it 68-61 with under five minutes remaining. WPI would then hold MCLA to just one field goal over the remainder of the game to close out the victory.
Niba was tough down the stretch as he didn't miss a free throw in the second half. He scored 12 of WPI's final 14 points to seal the win.
In the opening half, the pace was up and down the floor as the teams were trading buckets early. For the first eight minutes of play, neither team led by more than three points. With the score at 13-10 in favor of MCLA with 13:55 to play, WPI would embark on a 9-0 run to take the lead at 19-13 with still 11:34 left til halftime.
At that point, Trailblazer Khalil Paul kept MCLA in it. WPI took advantage of their rebounding to score, but Paul had the answer scoring twelve straight points for his team to keep them close. His jumper with six minutes left in the half closed the spurt and pulled MCLA within a point at 29-28. From there, WPI would take control going on a 17-8 run to close the half. They were up 46-33 late, but once again Paul drilled a deep triple at the buzzer to send the teams into the locker room with the visitors holding a 46-36 lead.
Ian Converse came off the bench to record a double double of 16 points and 15 rebounds, including 9 on the offensive end. Doncaster finished with 13 points while Obiora ended with 10.
Joe Wiggins overcame early foul trouble to score 12 points for the Trailblazers. Dakari Hannah Wornum added 11 points, 8 rebounds, and 3 blocks for MCLA.
The WPI bench outscored MCLA's 20-0 in the game and they helped the team outrebound MCLA 51-32.
WPI ended the night shooting 43% from the floor while they held the Trailblazers to just 24% shooting in the second half after the Trailblazers shot a solid 52% in the opening half. Much of that first half damage was done by Khalil Paul.
The Trailblazers made just a pair of field goals from inside the arc in the second half doing most of their damage on the perimeter. The Trailblazers canned 11 three point shots in the contest.
MCLA will close out the semester with the Tri State Shootout tournament this weekend hosted by RPI. The Trailblazers will challenge Southern Vermont in the opening game of the event on Saturday.