MCLA can't keep pace with Williams, fall to Ephs 97-72

North Adams, MA- The visiting Williams College Men's Basketball team placed five players in double figures and outscored MCLA 53-32 in the second half to pull away from the Trailblazers and go on to earn a 97-72 victory in non conference action.  The Ephs, ranked third nationally, improve to 3-0 on the season while MCLA drops to 1-2 overall.

MCLA led for most of the opening half on the heels of some torrid shooting.  The Ephs held an early 11-6 advantage before MCLA's Tyler McKay knocked down back to back triples putting the Trailblazers on top 12-11.  After trading baskets over the next few minutes and the game tied at 23-23, MCLA would use an 8-0 spurt as Noah Yearsley and Hayden Bird connected from deep while Mike Demartinis buried a short jumper to make it 31-23 in favor of the hosts.  Williams would claw back in the closing minutes of the first half.  MCLA led 38-32 with 4:27 left in the half, but the Ephs would outscore MCLA 12-2 to take a 44-40 edge into the locker room.

MCLA's McKay buried another three on the first possession of the second half pulling the Trailblazers within a point, however the Ephs would pound the ball inside and use a 17-4 run to start pulling away.  Williams never led by less than ten points the rest of the way as they outmuscled MCLA underneath outrebounding the Trailblazers 31-12 over the final twenty minutes of action.

Kyle Scadlock was solid for Williams ending with 20 points, 12 rebounds, and 5 assists.  James Heskett also netted 20 points on 4-9 shooting from beyond the arc.  He added 8 boards to just miss a double double.  Bobby Casey came off the bench to score 14 points, while Cole Teal and Matthew Karpowicz ended with 12 and 10 respectively.  The Ephs shot 49% from the floor in the win.

MCLA was paced by Yearsley's team high 16 point night.  He was 6-13 shooting including 4-8 from three point land.  McKay ended with 14 points with four three pointers of his own.  Ki-Shawn Monroe added 13 points for the Trailblazers.

MCLA did force Williams into 19 turnovers, however they had 14 of their own.  After starting out hot from deep, MCLA ended the contest shooting just 37% including a 32% clip in the second half.

The Trailblazers return to action on Saturday against NYU at 1pm in the Amsler Campus Center.