Men’s Basketball Cruises Past New England College in League-Opener, 80-62

QUINCY, Mass.- The Eastern Nazarene College men's basketball team collected an 80-62 wire-to-wire win over New England College Saturday afternoon at the Lahue Athletic Center in the first New England Collegiate Conference game of the year.

THE BASICS:
Score: Eastern Nazarene 80, New England College 62
Records: Lions (8-9, 1-0 NECC) | Pilgrims (2-12, 0-1 NECC)

HOW IT HAPPENED:

• The home side chalked up the first 12 points to establish a 12-0 lead three minutes into the contest.
• Eastern Nazarene extended its advantage to 32-12 with 7:23 remaining in the first half as Isaac Padilla (El Paso, Texas) knocked down a jumper.
• The Lions boasted a 46-19 halftime lead after shooting 54.8% from the field and sinking 8-of-17 from beyond the arc in the opening frame.
• The hosts netted a pair of baskets to start the second stanza and widen the margin to 50-19, the largest gap of the afternoon.
• Despite New England College finishing with a 43-34 edge in second-half scoring, Eastern Nazarene earned an 80-62 victory to secure its first league win of the season.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE:

• JaWaun Moore (Dayton, Ohio) poured in a career-high 24 points to go with six boards.
• Bernie McGuinness (Cumming, Ga.) posted his fifth double-double of the season, netting 15 points and grabbing 12 rebounds.
• Isaac Padilla (El Paso, Texas) tallied a career-best 15 points off the bench.
• Levi White (Springfield, Mass.) registered 12 points, nine rebounds, and four assists on the day.
• Eastern Nazarene shot 48.3% from the floor and drained 9-of-29 from behind the arc.
• New England College finished with a field-goal percentage of 33.3% and to go with 5-for-21 shooting from three-point range.
• Kyle Inglis paced the Pilgrims with 14 points while Jasen Stovall chipped in with 11 points off the bench.

                                                                                    
LOOKING AHEAD:

Eastern Nazarene hosts No. 5 Christopher Newport January 16.