BOX SCORE

BABSON PARK, Mass. - Visiting Clark University used an 11-0 run in the closing minutes of the second half to secure a 64-55 victory over host Babson College in a New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) men's basketball matchup at Staake Gymnasium on Saturday afternoon. With the win, the Cougars improve to 11-7 overall and 2-3 in the conference, while the Beavers fall to 8-9 overall and 1-4 in league play.

Sophomore Brian Vayda (Sturbridge, Mass.) led Clark with 14 points and six rebounds, while senior captain Mark Alexander (Providence, R.I.) contributed 13 points, six boards, five assists, and two steals. Senior Jack Minister (Manchester, England) added 11 points for the Cougars, and sophomore Mitch Renshaw (Rutland, Mass.) tossed in nine points to go with nine rebounds.

Babson was led by first-year Alex Rudolph (Bal Harbour, Fla.), who scored 10 points and recorded a game-high four steals, and sophomore Kris Noonan (Boothbay Harbor, Maine), who finished with nine points and nine rebounds. Junior Dana Mauro (Wethersfield, Conn.) and sophomore Matt Florio (Skillman, N.J.) each finished with eight points for the Beavers, while Florio joined junior captain Matt Zoia (Nashua, N.H.) with a team-high four assists.

The two teams exchanged lead 14 times in the contest, with neither squad going up by more than five until the final two minutes. After taking a 32-31 edge into the break, Clark went up by four twice in the opening five minutes of the second half. Babson then used a 6-0 run to move back in front, 42-40, with 11:36 left, and it remained a one-possession game until the Cougars' decisive run.

With Babson leading 51-50 with 3:48 remaining, Alexander netted five straight points with a three-pointer and a lay-up to give his team a 55-51 advantage. Vayda, Renshaw, and senior Reed Powell (Worcester, Mass.) then each drew a foul and sank both free throws to extend the Cougars' run to 11-0 and push their lead to 61-50 with 50 seconds left. Reed would later add two more freebies and Alexander hit one of two with 20 ticks left as Clark came away with the 64-55 win.