PAUL SMITH'S, N.Y. - The New England College Men's Basketball team defeated the Bobcats of Paul Smith's College on Saturday afternoon in a non-conference matchup.
NEC went on a six and zero run to start their game against Paul Smith's in the first half. Sophomore Josh Robie (Bethlehem, N.H.) led the team with gaining a 12-point lead, until the Bobcats started breaking glass. Where they went on a 13-point run in six minutes to take the lead with six and a half minutes left in the first. sophomore Ryan Cuvier (Tewksbury, Mass.) made two free throws and a layup to tie the game at 27 with 2:38 left in the first. With less than a minute Paul Smith's made a layup going back up two. Junior Jasen Stovall (Tampa, Fla.) was fouled, bringing him to the line and making both cut the lead again at 29 with 25 seconds left. Heading into halftime down by two, Cuvier leads with 10 points and junior Aiden MacLeod (Wilmington, Mass.) with eight.
Starting the second half, MacLeod was able to get the scoring started for the 'Grims. The start was back and forth, but a three pointer from junior Mike Strazzeri (Chichester, N.H.) tied the game at 37 just over five minutes into the second. The 'Grims started a lead with Strazzeri going 2 for 3 with free throws then two deep threes advanced their lead to seven. The last 10 minutes was a shooting match between the two teams going up and down the court. The Bobcats brought it within one point with just over five minutes, but with a dunk by MacLeod extended the lead to 59-56. Under a minute a foul caused Robie to go to the line and score to bring the final score to 67-58.
Coming off the bench, Stovall led with 13 points; Strazzeri and Cuvier both had 10. Extending their win streak to three, the 'Grims are headed to Northfield, VT to play Norwich at 6:00 PM.
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