Box Score NEW LONDON, Conn. – Conn. College used a 17-2 run in the second half to pull away from Coast Guard on their way to a 74-63 win in a nonconference contest.
The Bears (4-7) were led by junior Kevin Alvarez who scored 18 points and grabbed six rebounds. Senior Eli Sponseller had 16 points of his own.
Freshman Lee Messier had a game high 27 points for the Camels, including four three pointers in the first half. Sophomore Zuri Pavlin had a double-double scoring 17 points and grabbing 12 rebounds. Rounding out the top scorers for Conn. College was sophomore Colin Pascoe with 13 points.
The Camels (7-4) raced out to a 16-7 lead when junior Bo McKlinley drained a three pointer 3:55 into the first half. Messier had six points in the early run scoring two three pointers.
The Bears would then go on a 15-6 run tying the score at 22 on two free throws by Sponseller.
Sponseller cut it to a one point deficit at 37-36, scoring a three pointer with 40 seconds left in the first half. However, freshman Joey O'Connell sunk a three pointer of his own with 13 seconds on the clock taking the Camels into the half with a four point lead, 40-36.
Coast Guard started the second half hot going on a 12-4 run taking a 48-44 lead on an Alvarez three pointer 7:55 into the second half.
Conn. College would take control of the game from then on out going on a 17-2 run taking an 11 point lead on another Messier three pointer, 61-50.
The Bears cut it to seven with 44 seconds left in the game but it was too little too late as the Camels made their free throws and finished off the win, 74-63.
Coast Guard shot 42.6% (20-47) from the floor and 3-8 (37.5%) from beyond the arc. The Bears saw a strong contribution from their bench, as they outscored Conn. College's bench 19-4.
The Camels shot 47.1% (24-51) and 10-24 (41.7%) from three. Conn. College made their foul shots count as they scored 16-18 from the charity stripe.
"We fought hard, but in the end came up a little short," said Coast Guard head coach Kevin Jaskiewicz. "Our bench was very productive tonight."
Coast Guard returns to action on Wednesday, January 7th when they host Wheaton College in a NEWMAC showdown. The game will tip at 7:00 pm.
