Men’s Basketball Clipped by Wheaton, 70-67, Saturday

QUINCY, Mass.- The Eastern Nazarene College men's basketball team dropped a70-67 decision to Wheaotn Saturday afternoon at the Lahue Athletic Center.

THE BASICS:
Score: Eastern Nazarene 67, Wheaton (Mass.) 70
Records: Lions (1-3) | Lyons (3-1)

HOW IT HAPPENED:

• Eastern Nazarene captured a double-digit lead with 7:09 remaining in the first half, 28-17, as Darrell Hardge (Hialeah, Fla.) drilled a three-pointer.
• The Lions owned a 38-30 advantage at the halftime break after shooting 55.6% from the field in the opening stanza.
• Wheaton trimmed the deficit to 49-48 on a layup by Jaden Keliher with 11:03 left to play.
• The Lyons snagged a one-point lead with 7:23 on the clock as Dimetri Iafrate sank a trey, 53-52.
• The guests strung together a five-point run to establish a 68-62 advantage with 21 seconds to go.
• Eastern Nazarene answered with a basket by Darrell Hardge (Hialeah, Fla.) to pull to within four, 68-64, with 15 seconds remaining in regulation.
• Wheaton responded with a pair of free throws by Tristan Herry to extend its lead to 70-64 with 12 ticks left on the clock.
• The Lions' Darrell Hardge (Hialeah, Fla.) drilled a three-pointer at the buzzer as the final margin finished at 70-67 in favor of the visitors.
  

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE:        

• Darrell Hardge (Hialeah, Fla.) poured in a game-high 21 points to go with eight rebounds and three steals.
• JT Rosier (Miami, Fla.) tallied a career-best 10 points off the bench.
• Martinie Kamga (Yaounde, Cameroon) collected 11 rebounds while adding seven points.
• Eastern Nazarene concluded the contest with a field-goal percentage of 50% while draining 6-of-14 three-point attempts.
• Wheaton shot 38.3% from the floor and 27.8% from long distance.
• Tristan Herry paced the Lyons with 18 points while Dimetri Iafrate finished with 11 points and Khaled Thaher chipped in with 10 points off the bench.

LOOKING AHEAD:
Eastern Nazarene begins North Atlantic Conference play November 28 at home against SUNY Cobleskill.