Men's Basketball Lose a Close Conference Matchup to Emmanuel

CHICOPEE, Mass. - The Elms College Men's Basketball team hosted Emmanuel College for a conference game on Saturday afternoon at Picknelly Arena.

BASICS
Score: Elms College 71 | Emmanuel College 76
Records: Blazers 9-12, 3-5 (GNAC) | Saints 10-11, 4-4 (GNAC)

PRIOR TO THE GAME

The Elms College Men's Basketball team hosted their annual Alumni Day along with a halftime performance from the Saint Stanislaus Parish Boy's 3rd & 4th Grade CYO Basketball Team.

HOW IT HAPPENED

Elms set the tone early in the opening half, jumping out to a quick start behind junior guard Andrew Ciaglo (Hadley, Mass.) making a three-point shot just 29 seconds in, followed by a layup from first year forward Jaedon Bogar (Aubrey, Texas) to give the Blazers a 5-0 lead. The Elms defense would be active from the opening tip, forcing turnovers and controlling the glass as senior forward/guard RJ Mayfield (Springfield, Mass.) and Bogar grabbed early rebounds to limit Emmanuel's second chances. After the Saints responded to pull within one, Elms regained momentum as Mayfield finished at the rim and junior guard Arik Dagan (Southbury, Conn.) knocked down a jumper to push the lead to three-points. The Blazers continued to apply pressure, with Ciaglo converting a layup out of the timeout to keep Elms ahead by two-points midway through the opening half. The Elms' depth made an impact as the bench unit contributed key minutes, highlighted by senior center/guard/forward Edgardo Jacob Cancel (Northampton, Mass.) attacking the basket for a layup and free throw to spark a response after Emmanuel briefly took the lead. Cancel would add another pair of shots from the line, while first year guard Jamie Lawson (Charlotte, N.C.) fueled a strong stretch with a steal and fast-break layup to put Elms back in front, 20-19. Lawson followed with another finish inside moments later, giving the Blazers a 22-21 edge and forcing the Saints to regroup. Elms would continue to battle on both ends, with Mayfield scoring inside, Cancel protecting the rim with a block, and Elms winning multiple rebounding battles during extended defensive stands. Late in the half, Elms stayed composed at the free-throw line and closed the period with a layup made by senior forward Adam Sarlan (Chicopee, Mass.) in the final minute. Despite Emmanuel taking a narrow 37-32 advantage into the break, Elms showcased strong energy, balanced scoring, and defensive intensity throughout the first half, keeping the contest within reach heading into the halftime break.

The Blazers would open the second half with strong energy, immediately going to work on the glass as Ciaglo pulled down an offensive rebound on the opening possession. Bogar jump-started the scoring with a layup to cut the deficit to three, and moments later Ciaglo buried a three-pointer off an Dagan assist to bring Elms within two. The Blazers stayed aggressive defensively, forcing turnovers and capitalizing as Cancel finished inside to knot the game at 39-39 early in the half. After Emmanuel briefly regained the lead at the free-throw line, the Blazers would continue to answer. Cancel scored again, and the Elms defense would chip away possession by possession behind steady rebounding from Ciaglo and Bogar. Elms went on a balanced stretch of scoring, with Bogar finishing inside and Cancel knocking down a jumper to keep the Blazers within striking distance. Midway through the half, Elms pulled even once more as sophomore guard Jack Lo (Harahan, La.) converted a pair of free throws to give the Blazers their first lead of the half, 51-49. The momentum would swing back and forth as both teams traded baskets, but Elms remained composed. Sarlan calmly knocked down free throws to regain the lead, and Mayfield converted a layup off a Lawson assist to push the Blazers ahead 55-52, forcing a Saints timeout. Ciaglo continued his hot shooting, drilling another three-pointer to extend Elms' lead to 60-56. Even when Emmanuel responded, the Blazers would answer right back as Ciaglo struck again from deep to tie the game at 63-63 with just over six minutes remaining. Down the stretch, the Blazers battled on every possession. Cancel scored off a steal to keep Elms within one, and Ciaglo added a free throw following another defensive stop to cut the deficit to a single point late. The Blazers would force key turnovers and stayed aggressive defensively, highlighted by Mayfield's block in the final minutes. In the closing seconds, Lawson finished at the rim as time expired, capping off a relentless second-half effort by Elms. Despite the Saints pulling away at the free-throw line in the final moments, Elms showcased resilience, timely shooting, and defensive intensity throughout the second half, battling until the final buzzer and turning the contest into a tightly contested finish. Emmanuel would defeat the Blazers 76-71 in the conference matchup.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

• Cancel - 17 points, two rebounds, two steals, and a block.

• Ciaglo - 15 points and seven rebounds.

• Mayfield - 14 points, three blocks, two rebounds, a steal, and an assist.

• Lawson - nine points, two assists, a rebound, and a steal.

• Bogar - seven points, seven rebounds, and an assist.

• Sarlan - five points, two rebounds, and a steal.

• Dagan - two points, two rebounds, and an assist.

• Lo - two points and two steals.

• Watkins - two assists and two rebounds.

UP NEXT: The Elms College Men's Basketball team will travel to Newton, Mass. for a conference matchup at Lasell University Wednesday, February 11th at 7:30 pm.

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