Men's Hoops Lose in a Close Game at Home to Curry

CHICOPEE, Mass. - The Elms College Men's Basketball team hosted Curry College in a non-conference game on Tuesday evening at Picknelly Arena.

BASICS
Score: Elms College 59 | Curry College 64
Records: Blazers 5-3, 0-0 (GNAC) | Colonels 3-4, 0-0 (CNE)

HOW IT HAPPENED

Elms would start the non-conference game with a jump shot from senior center/guard/forward Edgardo Jacob Cancel (Northampton, Mass.) and a three-point shot by junior guard DJ Watkins (Union, N.J.), but Curry would score a pair of layups to make the score 5-4. The two intrastate teams would trade possession until the Colonels would score on a dunk to take the lead. The Blazers would then answer back with a layup from Cancel and a jump shot by senior forward/guard RJ Mayfield (Springfield, Mass.), but Curry would continue to add to their lead. The two opposing teams would continue trade blows with Elms capitalizing on layups by sophomore forward/guard Daniel Villanueva (Seymour, Conn.) and senior forward Adam Sarlan (Chicopee, Mass.), along with successful free throw attempts and a layup by first year guard Jamie Lawson (Charlotte, N.C.). The two teams would put strong defensive structures that would cause the other team to struggle offensively, including a steal by Mayfield that would lead to a layup by first year forward/center Rayquan Anderson (Waterbury, Conn.). The Colonels and Blazers would then trade baskets, with Elms scoring on a jump shot from Watkins, assisted by junior guard Travis Jordan (Springfield, Mass.), followed by a three-point shot by Watkins, after receiving a pass from Cancel, to take a 24-23 lead. As the final minutes would count down, the Blazers would generate some offensive momentum with a layup and a pair of free throws by Villanueva, but Curry would score a three-point shot to go into the halftime break with a 29-28 lead.

The second half would begin by the Colonels turning the ball over on their first possession, as Watkins would connect a pass to Sarlan for a layup to take back the lead momentarily, but Curry would answer back with a layup of their own. The two cross-state foes would trade jabs at each other when Cancel would make a layup and a jump shot on back-to-back possessions, but the Colonels would add a layup and a three-point shot to take a two point lead. Moments later, Jordan would steal the ball and would make a layup after receiving a pass from Sarlan to tie the game 36-36. The Blazers would continue to carry the momentum when Sarlan would connect a pass to Watkins for a three-point shot to then take the lead. Cancel would add a layup, but Curry would tie the game up, 41-41, with the help of a three-point shot and layup of their own, and would then score another three-pointer to take back the lead. Even though they seemed to be backed into a corner, Elms would not back down, as Cancel would record a steal and Watkins would make a layup, draw the foul, and would complete the three-point play with a free throw to tie the game once again, 44-44. The two teams would continue trade blows, as Watkins would make another three-point shot, but the Colonels would score on a three-pointer on their next attempt, followed by a pair of jump shots from Mayfield and a layup by Lawson. As the second half neared its final minutes, Curry would continue to add to their lead, but the Blazers would not back away, as Watkins would score a pair of layups, Sarlan would add a steal and a free throw, and Mayfield would record a throw, along with a steal from Jordan. Unfortunately, the Colonels would walk away with the 64-59 victory to hand Elms their first loss at home of the season.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

• Watkins - 21 points, seven rebounds, and an assist.

• Cancel - ten points, four rebounds, two assists, and a steal.

• Mayfield - seven points, six rebounds, and a steal.

• Villanueva - six points, three rebounds, and an assist.

• Lawson - six points and a rebound.

• Sarlan -  five points, four rebounds, four assists, and a steal.

• Jordan - four rebounds, two points, two steals, and an assist.

• Bogar - four rebounds and an assist.

• Anderson - two points and a rebound.

• Rolnick - a rebound.

UP NEXT: The Elms College Men's Basketball team will return to action following the Thanksgiving break in North Adams, Mass. on Tuesday, December 2nd for a non-conference game at Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts at 6 pm.

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