02/02/2008
Men's Basketball Holds Off Babson College, 59-55

BABSON PARK, MASS. 02/02/08 - Sophomore Mark Alexander (Providence, R.I.) had 11 points, including several key free throws down the stretch, to lift the Clark University mens basketball team to a 59-55 victory over Babson College in New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) action at Staake Gymnasium on Saturday afternoon. With the victory, Clark maintains second place in the conference.

Senior Pat Landers led Clark with 15 points and six boards, while senior Pat Ochoa (Springfield, Mass.) finished with nine points.

Clark (10-8, 5-2 NEWMAC), which never trailed in the game, led 37-24 at the half and then went up by as many as 20 (47-27) on a three-pointer by Ochoa early in the second. The Cougars still held a comfortable 53-39 lead with 8:19 remaining, but Babson rallied with a furious 16-2 run to tie the game, 55-55, with 1:18 left in regulation. Junior Zach Etten (Hollis, N.H.) scored 12 points, including three trey's, during the uprising.

However, Alexander, who was held to just three points in the first half, hit two free throws with 54.7 seconds on the clock and then sank one of two with 25.2 remaining to give Clark a 58-55 lead. Babson came up empty on two three-point attempts in the closing seconds as the Cougars claimed the eventual 59-55 victory.

The Cougars, who finished the game shooting 40.9% from three-point range, drained 7-of-14 (50%) trey's in the first half, while Babson hit just 1-of-8 (12.5%) in the opening frame. However, the Beavers won the battle of the boards outrebounding Clark, 38-30.

Etten had 15 points to lead Babson (6-12, 3-4 NEWMAC). Senior Kyle McDonald (Wethersfield, Conn.) added 10 points and senior Chris Bradley (Mount Vernon, N.Y.) chipped in with nine points, four blocks and a game-high 11 rebounds for the Beavers.

Clark will travel to Trinity College for a non-conference game on Monday (7 p.m.). Babson will host Bowdoin College on Wednesday at 7:30 p.m.