Johnson scores a career-high 17 points to pace the Lyons

CAMBRIDGE, Mass. – Led by five players in double-figures, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) earned a 70-57 triumph over the Wheaton College men's basketball team on Wednesday night in New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) action at the Rockwell Cage.

Senior forward Brian Johnson (Roxbury, Mass./Brimmer and May School) compiled a career-high 17 points on 6-of-10 shooting from the floor, six rebounds, three assists and one steal to pace the Lyons. Sophomore forward Ryan Clinesmith (New York, N.Y./The Hill School) notched 13 points, four boards, one steal and one assist while classmate Mike O'Loughlin (Milford, N.H./Milford) had eight points, three rebounds, three steals and one helper. Sophomore guard Mike Cannon (New York, N.Y./Hyde School) registered seven points, four rebounds and one block.

The Engineers received a career-high 14 points from sophomore guard Paul Dawson (Stone Mountain, Ga./Greater Atlanta Christian), two rebounds, three assists and one steal. Senior forward Will Tashman (Atherton, Calif./Menlo School) contributed 13 points, classmate Mitchell Kates (Colts Neck, N.J./Phillips Exeter Academy) tallied 12 points, sophomore forward Matt Redfield (Los Altos, Calif./Gunn) added 12 points and freshman forward Justin Pedley (Kennewick, Wash./Kamiakin) rounded out the group with ten points.

MIT shot 42.0-percent (21-for-50) from the field, 35.0-percent (7-for-20) from long distance and 75.0-percent (21-for-28) at the line. Wheaton connected on 44.2-percent (19-for-43) of its shots, 46.2-percent (6-for-13) from three-point range and 56.5-percent (13-for-23) of its free throw attempts. The Engineers outrebounded the visitors 38-25 and outscored the Lyons 24-20 in the paint.

In the first half, MIT came out scoring as the hosts went 12-for-23 (52.2-percent) from the floor taking a 42-27 advantage into the break. Pedley scored all ten of his points in the first stanza while Redfield collected eight points and Tashman had six points. Clinesmith led the Lyons in the opening half with ten points.

The Engineers broke open a 12-12 tie at the 13:04 mark with a 16-6 run over the next six minutes and 46-seconds of play and never looked back eventually taking their 15-point advantage (42-27) into the half. Pedley fueled the run with a pair of three-pointers at 9:30 and 8:34.

Wheaton (8-11, 1-7 NEWMAC) hosts Worcester State University in a non-conference matchup tomorrow in Emerson Gymnasium at 7 p.m. on "Blue Out Night." Fans are encouraged to wear blue in conjunction with the team's promotion for the game. MIT (15-4, 6-2 NEWMAC) hosts NEWMAC foe Springfield College on Saturday, February 2 at 1 p.m. The Engineers swept the season series against the Lyons with an 84-47 victory earlier this season on January 5.