BABSON PARK, Mass.—Graduate student Steph Baxter (Worcester, Mass.) scored a game-high 19 points and sophomore Timmy O'Toole (Milton, Mass.) recorded a double-double with 13 points and 11 rebounds as Babson College defeated visiting Springfield College, 67-44, in New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) men's basketball action on Saturday afternoon inside Staake Gymnasium. 

With its third straight win, Babson improves to 11-11 overall and 7-6 in conference play. Springfield has now dropped six of its last eight games to drop to 7-14 overall and 4-8 in the NEWMAC. 

Baxter finished 7-of-14 from the floor and O'tool added three steals and two blocked shots to lead the Beavers. Junior David Cross (Cinnaminson, N.J.) also scored 12 points and first-year NeJohn Fortes (New Bedford, Mass.) chipped in with nine points and eight rebounds off the bench in the win. 

Sophomore Curtis Blische (Barkhamstead, Conn.) scored 13 points and grabbed seven boards to lead the Pride. 

Despite enduring a field goal drought of more than eight minutes to open the game, Cross knocked down two three-pointers and sophomore Mark Woolhouse (Lebanon, N.J.) and Baxter made one apiece as part of a 14-0 run that gave the Green and White a 19-11 advantage with 3:09 to go until halftime. Springfield made just its second field goal in a span of more than 10 minutes to get within 22-16 less than a minute into the second half before the Beavers answered with an 11-2 spurt. 

Baxter got things started with a triple, O'Toole contributed four points and Fortes finished inside to make it 33-18 with 15:24 to go in the contest. The Pride cut its deficit to 12 on a trifecta by graduate student Joe Hoch (South Ozone Park, N.Y.) but Babson responded with four straight free throws, a bucket by sophomore Tyler  Lauder (Malvern, Pa.) and a three-point play from O'Toole to stretch its lead to 44-25 at the 11:17 mark. 

Baxter gave the Green and White its first 20-point lead of the afternoon with a layup with 8:18 remaining, while Cross canned his third three-pointer of the game pushing the margin to 52-27 just over a minute later. Fortes gave Babson its largest advantage of the contest with a breakaway dunk to make it 57-31 with 4:56 to play. 

The Beavers shot just 34.4 percent from the floor but knocked down seven three-pointers and finished 18-of-22 (81.8 percent) at the free throw line. They also ended with a 46-40 edge on the glass and scored 24 points off of 17 Springfield turnovers. 

The Pride shot recorded its second lowest field goal percentage of the year (26.8) and went just 2-of-13 (15.4 percent) from beyond the arc in the loss. 

Both teams return to action on Wednesday at 7 p.m. as Babson travels to Wheaton while Springfield visits Coast Guard. 

GAME NOTES
•    The Beavers are 30-43 all-time against Springfield and have won nine of their last 11 games against the Pride at home.
•    The 44 points allowed by Babson in Saturday's victory are the fewest it has given up since a 76-48 win over Bates back on November 24, 2019.
•    The Beavers are 4-1 this season when forcing at least 16 turnovers. 
•    The Green and White is now 6-0 on the year when holding its foes below 40 percent shooting.