Cannon registers near double-double in the loss

NORTON, Mass. – The Wheaton College men's basketball team dropped a 79-69 decision to Fisher College on Monday afternoon in a non-conference matchup inside Emerson Gymnasium.

Wheaton senior forward Mike Cannon (New York, N.Y./Hyde School) nearly turned in his third double-double of the season in the loss with ten points, a game-high eight rebounds and one assist. Junior guard Billy Battaglia (Simsbury, Conn./Taft School) recorded a team-high 17 points on 6-of-18 shooting from the floor (4-for-5 FT) along with five rebounds, four assists and a steal. Senior guard Eddie Capstick (Worcester, Mass./Marianapolis Prep) and first-year guard Ryan Fogarty (Walpole, Mass./Walpole) both tallied 14 points apiece, while the duo also combined for 11 rebounds.

Fisher junior swingman Tyler Shular (Norwalk, Conn./Brien McMahan) paced all scorers with 24 points on 8-for-12 shooting from the field and converted 5-of-7 free throws to go with a pair of assists, rebounds and steals. Classmate Kyle Holmes (Hamden, Conn./Wilbur Cross) added 15 points on 6-of-9 shooting, which included a 3-for-4 line from beyond the arc, and senior guard/forward Onesimus Moore (Houston, Texas/Bethel College) had eight points, a game-high five assists and four rebounds.

The Falcons shot 42.4-percent (28-for-66) from the field, 42.9-percent (12-for-28) from beyond the arc and 61.1-percent (11-for-18) at the free throw line. Fisher held an 18-7 advantage in points off turnovers, a 30-20 differential in points in the paint and a 16-7 margin in fast break points. Wheaton fashioned a 39.7 (23-for-58) field goal percentage, a 29.6 (8-for-27) three-point field goal percentage and a 71.4 (15-for-21) free throw percentage. The Lyons out-rebounded the visitors 42-38 and also compiled nine blocks.

In a matchup that featured five ties and six lead changes, Fisher capitalized on the final lead change of the contest at the 4:13 mark of the first half after junior guard Jameel Yousif (Chicago, Ill./Glendale CC) buried a tough right-handed baseline layup through traffic. The Falcons went on to outscore Wheaton, 9-5, over the remaining moments of the stanza to claim a 38-32 advantage at the break and never relinquished their lead. Holmes canned a pair of three-pointers during the run, which included a trey from the right wing with 10-seconds remaining, while Yousif nailed a long distance shot with 1:17 on the clock.

The Lyons, who were ahead by as many as nine points (19-10, 10:41) in the first half, brought the game within six points (50-44) with 15:27 to play in the matchup. Wheaton received one 3-pointer from Battaglia and sophomore center Timothy Berry (Sterling, Mass./St. Peter Marian), respectively, during the spurt and six points via Capstick who ended the run with a four-point play after drilling home a fast break three-pointer and the ensuing free throw shot.

Fisher answered with a 10-2 run to amass its largest lead of the contest at 14 points (60-46, 10:25) and went on to maintain a three-possession advantage – at minimum – for the remainder of the stanza. The Falcons had nine student-athletes contribute at least one point in the second half, highlighted by nine points from Shular and seven from sophomore guard Darrell Grady (Staten Island, N.Y./St. Peters).

Wheaton (3-11) hosts Emerson College in a New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) clash this Wednesday at 7 p.m. Fisher (15-5) takes on Trinity at 6 p.m. on Wednesday at home.

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