Box Score NEW LONDON, Conn. – A key three point play in the final minute by senior David Anderson helped secure a 62-60 victory for Coast Guard over Wheaton in both team's first NEWMAC game of the season.
Tonight's victory matched last year's season total for the Bears (5-7, 1-0) and snapped their five game losing streak.
Coast Guard was led by junior Kevin Alvarez who had 17 points and seven rebounds. Junior Ricky Rodriguez drained two three pointers on his way to 12 points. Anderson added 11 points and four rebounds of his own. Freshman Zak Bradley had a career high seven rebounds on the night.
Junior Billy Battaglia led all scorers with 24 points for the Lyons (3-7, 0-1). Freshman Ryan Fogarty had 15 points while sophomore Zach Parsons had a game 14 rebounds and eight points.
The Bears started out the game hot scoring the first ten points of the game running out to 10-0 lead 4:27 into the game. Alvarez scored five of Coast Guard's first ten points.
The Bears continued to dominate early as a jumper by Rodriguez made the score 24-15 with 8:26 left in the half.
Wheaton would trim the lead right before the half as they went on a 16-11 run to finish up the stanza cutting Coast Guard's lead to 35-31.
Midway through the second half the Bears looked like they were running away with the game as a jumper by Anderson gave Coast Guard a 51-40 lead with 11:37 left in the game.
The Bears continued to pour it on taking a 12 point lead when sophomore Adrian Chuquillangui drained back to back three pointers to make the score 57-45 at the 6:38 mark.
The Lyons however came storming back going on an 11-0 run capped off by an old fashioned three point play by Battaglia trimming the Coast Guard's lead to one at 57-56 with under two minutes left in the game.
Anderson came through the for the Bears with 32 seconds left on the clock collecting a missed jump shot by Rodriguez and laying it back in for two while being fouled in the process. He would complete the three point play to give Coast Guard a four point lead and carrying them to a 62-60 victory.
The Bears shot 48.1% (25-52) from the floor and made 7-17(41.2%) from beyond the arc. Coast Guard led from start to finish winning their NEWMAC opener for the first time since the 2010-11 season.
Wheaton was 21-60 (35%) on the game while shooting 25% (5-20) from three. The Lyons had 16 points off turnovers but were never able to break the Bear's lead.
Coast Guard returns to action on Saturday January 10th when they host Emerson. The game will tip at 1:00 pm.
POST GAME INTERVIEW HEAD COACH KEVIN JASKIEWICZ
