01/14/2009
Men's Basketball Eases Past Springfield, 72-57

WORCESTER, MASS. 1/14/09 - Senior Peter Normandin (Westminster, Mass.) had 18 points and eight rebounds to lead Clark University to a 72-57 New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) victory over Springfield College on Wednesday evening at the Kneller Athletic Center.

Two more players scored in double figures for Clark, which improved to 9-5 overall and remained unbeaten (3-0) in conference play. Juniors Mark Alexander (Providence, R.I.) and Jack Minister (Manchester, England) tallied 12 and 11 points, respectively

Clark outscored Springfield 24-9 in the first 9:23 of the game to grab a 17 point lead (41-24) heading into the half. Alexander led the Cougar assault with 10 first half points. Clark shot 50 percent (15-30) from the field in the frame to Springfield's 35.7 percent clip (10-28).

Springfield didn't go down without a fight in the second half. A conventional three-point play by Evan Christner (Voorheesville, N.Y.) cut Clark's lead to 12 points (46-34) with 13:27 to play.

But Clark responded with a 14-6 run over the next 4:07 to put the game away.

Junior Pat Crean (Sleepy Hollow, N.Y.) led Springfield (7-7, 0-2) with 10 points and four assists. Freshman Ryan Coburn (West Warwick, R.I.) grabbed a team-high six boards.

Clark, which shot 78.9 percent from the charity stripe, also held a 40-32 advantage on the glass.

Clark will go up against cross-town rival WPI in a battle of NEWMAC unbeatens on Saturday (2 p.m.) at Harrington Auditorium. Springfield will also face an undefeated NEWMAC team when it takes on MIT that same day at 2 p.m.