BABSON PARK, Mass.—Graduate student Steph Baxter (Worcester, Mass.) scored 16 of his game-high 20 points in the first half as Babson College defeated visiting Salve Regina University, 63-49, in New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) men's basketball action on Saturday afternoon inside Staake Gymnasium. 

With its fourth win over the last five games, Babson improves to 12-12 overall and 8-7 in conference play. Salve Regina has dropped its last seven outings and is now 10-13 overall and 4-10 in the NEWMAC. 

Baxter was 8-of-14 shooting and added three assists, while junior David Cross (Cinnaminson, N.J.) knocked down three three-pointers and finished with 12 points and three assists to lead the Beavers. First-year NeJohn Fortes (New Bedford, Mass.) chipped in with eight points and six rebounds and junior Timmy O'Toole (Milton, Mass.) led all players with 14 boards in the win. 

Junior Declan Walmsley (Franklin, Mass.) and sophomore Sean Seymour (Albany, N.Y.) both scored 12 points to pace the Seahawks. 

The Green and White made just two field goals over the first 10 minutes and trailed by as many as six before outscoring Salve Regina 19-2 over the final 6:51 to seize control of the game. Cross knocked down a triple to give the Beavers a 16-14 edge at the 5:29 mark, O'Toole followed with another three-pointer two minutes later and Baxter scored 11 points over the final 1:28 of the opening stanza, capped by a three-pointer from the top of the key to give the hosts a 30-16 lead going into the locker room. 

The Seahawks were as close as 11 three times over the first four minutes of the second half and were within 41-29 after a layup by first-year Brady Spencer (Pembroke, Mass.) with 12:44 to play before Babson put the game away with a 16-5 run. Cross got things started with a pair of free throws and then closed a stretch that saw the Beavers score on seven of five possessions with a three-pointer to make it 52-32 with 8:59 to go. 

Sophomore Mark Woolhouse (Lebanon, N.J.) finished off a feed from Fortes inside and then drilled a triple from the top of the key to give Babson its largest advantage of the afternoon at 57-34 with 7:10 remaining. 

The Beavers shot 42.1 percent from the floor and 42.9 percent from beyond the arc in the win. Salve Regina shot just 33.9 percent from the floor rand was 2-of-16 (12.5 percent) from distance in the loss. 

Babson is off until next Saturday when it travels to Coast Guard for its regular season finale at 1 p.m., while the Seahawks host Coast Guard on Wednesday at 7 p.m. 

GAME NOTES
•    The Beavers are 12-4 all-time against Salve Regina and have won six in a row at home in the series dating back to 2008.
•    Babson is now 10-3 this season when shooting at least 40 percent and 11-5 when scoring at least 60 points. 
•    O'Toole has pulled down 10 or more rebounds in six consecutive games. 
•    The Green and White is 8-3 this season inside Staake Gymnasium.