VIDEO: Highlights from MIT/Wheaton

NORTON, Mass. – Freshman Ryan Clinesmith (New York, N.Y./The Hill School) scored a career-high 16 points in Wheaton College's 85-56 loss to No. 5 MIT Wednesday night in New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) men's basketball action at Emerson Gymnasium.

Senior Brendan Degnan (Narragansett, R.I./Bishop Hendricken) and sophomore Will Bayliss (Manchester, N.H./Tilton Academy) scored 11 and 10 points, respectively, for the Lyons (8-11, 2-6 NEWMAC). Senior Noel Hollingsworth (Salt Lake City, Utah/Judge Memorial Catholic) led four MIT (19-1, 7-1 NEWMAC) players in double-figures with 19 points to go along with nine rebounds, four blocks and three assists.

MIT raced out to a 34-7 lead and led 42-20 at the end of 20 minutes of play behind 14 points and six rebounds from junior Will Tashman (Atherton, Calif./Menlo School) and 11 points from junior Mitchell Kates (Colts Neck, N.J./Phillips Exeter Academy). Bayliss and Clinesmith paced the Lyons with six points.

The Engineers opened the second half on a 7-0 run to stretch their lead to 49-22 two minutes in. The Lyons outscored MIT 11-4 during a three-minute stretch midway through the second half – including a 7-0 run at one point – but still found themselves down by 24 (64-40) at the 10-minute mark. The Engineers eventually built a 31-point advantage and won for the 19th time in 20 games this season.

"I told our team that I saw good signs in the second half," said Lyons head coach Brian Walmsley. "I thought Ryan Clinesmith gave us some good energy and some scoring. Jaycob Morales grabbed some offensive rebounds amongst 6-foot-8 and 6-foot-9 guys. We stayed in but just didn't make shots early in the game. Hopefully, our second-half energy will carry over as we move into the stretch run."

The Engineers shot close to 60 percent for the contest (57.9 pct.) – including 16-of-20 in the second half (80.0 pct.) – and outrebounded the Lyons 45-30. Defensively, the Engineers held the Lyons to 30.6 percent shooting (19-of-62) and blocked seven shots. Tashman finished with 17 points and 11 boards while Kates netted 17 points, four steals and three assists.

Clinesmith finished with six rebounds for Wheaton while the aforementioned Jaycob Morales (Lawrence, Mass./Central Catholic) had five rebounds. Degnan tallied a team-high three steals as the Lyons forced 14 turnovers while committing 11.

The Lyons return to action tomorrow night when they head to Worcester State for a 7 p.m. contest. MIT plays at Springfield Saturday at 2 p.m.