Men’s Basketball Tops Wheelock in Season-Opener Saturday, 67-55

CHESTNUT HILL, Mass.- The Eastern Nazarene men's basketball team captured its first season-opening victory since the 2001-02 campaign as it kicked off the 2013-14 season with a 67-55 win over Wheelock Saturday afternoon.

The win lifts the Lions to 1-0 on the year while the Wildcats drop to 0-1 overall.

Jaylen Owens (Johns Creek, Ga.) paced Eastern Nazarene with a double-double in the victory, scoring 20 points while adding 10 boards, five assists and four steals. Eric Lynch (Alpharetta, Ga.) finished with 12 points and four rebounds.

Alex Jarman (Portsmouth, R.I.) posted 11 points and a career-high nine rebounds while also racking up a game-high three rejections. Justin Wagner (Oklahoma City, Okla.) registered nine points, three steals and two assists.

Wheelock scored the first seven points of the game before Eastern Nazarene got on the board 2:30 into the contest on a free throw by Jarman.

The Lions chipped away at the deficit before capturing a 25-17 lead following a 17-0 stretch.

Eastern Nazarene headed into the halftime break holding a 35-30 edge after closing out the first half on a 6-1 run.

Justin Wagner and Jarman each scored seven points in the first half to lead the Lions while Lequan Gomes (Fairfield, Calif.) contributed with six points.

Eastern Nazarene owned a field-goal percentage of 44.0% in the opening 20 minutes. Wheelock shot 37.9% from the floor in the first period.

The visitors lengthened their advantage to 14 points with 4:34 left to play in regulation as Jeremy Wagner (Oklahoma City, Okla.) converted a pair of free throws, 58-44.

After Wheelock cut the Lions' lead to nine with 3:15 on the clock, Eastern Nazarene tallied six unanswered points to extend the margin to 15 points with 2:04 remaining, 64-49.

The two squads combined to score the final six points of the game from the charity stripe as the Lions held on to secure the victory.

Eastern Nazarene shot 41% from the field on the day, including 31% from downtown. Wheelock drained 37% of its shot attempts in the game while shooting 33% from long distance.

Up next, Eastern Nazarene welcomes Suffolk to the Lahue Physical Education Center November 19 in the Lions' first home game of the year.