Camels Improve Record With Men's Basketball Win

Connecticut College's men's basketball team returned to colder climes and earned a victory on Tuesday, defeating Eastern Nazarene College 61-56. The following information was provided by the Eastern Nazarene College Athletic Department:

The Eastern Nazarene men’s basketball team kicked off 2012 against Connecticut College on Tuesday night at the Lahue Event Center. The contest was a back and forth battle but the Camels pulled away in the final minutes of regulation to secure a 61-56 victory over the Lions in non-conference basketball action. With the win, Connecticut College improves to 5-6 while ENC’s record drops to 1-7 on the season.

The revamped Lion's squad, which lost six players entering the second half of the season, started the game strong, shooting 45.8% from the field in the first twenty minutes and 37.5% from 3-point range. The Camels were also effective from the field, knocking down 50% of their first half shots and hitting 33.3% from behind the arc.

ENC took a one-point lead into the locker room at the half after sophomore Brian Hard hit a 3-point bucket to give the Lions the slight advantage over the Camels at 32-31. Both teams displayed balanced scoring in the first period with junior Boris Jeremic and sophomore Mason Lopez leading Connecticut College’s attack with nine and six points, and three different players chipping in four for the Camels. Eastern Nazarene had four players with six or more points, with junior Mike McCoy and Hard garnering eight apiece.

The Camels took control midway through the second period, knocking down several threes as they began to pull away from the Lions. Eastern Nazarene mounted a comeback down the stretch but could not overcome the deficit, as Connecticut College secured their fifth win of the 2011-2012 season.

Jeremic led all players with 15 points on 7-11 shooting. Sophomores Matt Vadas and Lopez tallied 14 and 13 points, respectively. Classmate Jethro Anilus secured seven rebounds for Connecticut College in 16 minutes of play.

Junior Chima Ezeigbo scored 14 and grabbed a game-high eight rebounds for Eastern Nazarene. Fellow junior Max Barbosa dished out six assists and accounted for 12 ENC points, while senior CJ Gonzales chipped in 11 for the Lions.

Connecticut College will open NESCAC play on the road against Trinity College on Friday at 8 p.m. The Lions will travel to Daniel Webster on Thursday to face the Eagles in a 7:30 p.m. game.