Capstick nets season-high 19 points in the loss

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. – The Wheaton College men's basketball team lost to Springfield College, 96-64, on Saturday afternoon in a New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) matchup inside Blake Arena.

Wheaton senior guard Eddie Capstick (Worcester, Mass./Marianapolis Prep) tallied a season-high 19 points to go along with three steals and one rebound to guide the Lyons. Junior guard Billy Battaglia (Simsbury, Conn./Taft School) notched 17 points and three rebounds, while sophomore center Timothy Berry (Sterling, Mass./St. Peter Marian) and Ryan Fogarty (Walpole, Mass./Walpole) both had seven points each. Fogarty also added five rebounds and two assists in the loss.

Springfield's offense, which scored a season-high 96 points going 55.4-percent (36-for-65) from the field on the afternoon, featured five student-athletes in double-figures led by junior guard Alex Garstka (Westfield, Mass./Westfield) who collected 21 points (7-10 FG, 3-5 3PT, 4-4 FT) in 20 minutes off the bench.

Senior guard Nick Sienkiewicz (Cranston, R.I./Marianapolis Prep) added 12 points to the fold, while classmate Sean Martin (Rindge, N.H./Conant) had 16 points and seven assists. Graduate forward Tim Swenson (Millbury, Mass./Millbury) notched 11 points and hauled in seven rebounds and senior guard Josh Altman (Rockport, Mass./Rockport) rounded out the group with 13 points and five rebounds.

The Pride held a 39-28 advantage on the glass, dished out 21 assists on 36 made baskets and configured a 25-10 differential in points off turnovers. Wheaton shot 44.2-percent (23-for-52) from the field, 46.2-percent (6-for-13) from beyond the arc and 63.2-percent (12-for-19) at the line.

Wheaton jumped out to a 14-9 lead over the opening seven-plus minutes of action as Capstick guided the charge with eight points, including a pair of treys. Battaglia chipped in with four points and senior guard Mike O'Loughlin (Milford, N.H./Milford) contributed a layup at the 18:10 mark of the run.

Springfield answered with a 17-2 surge over the following 5:55 of action to claim a 26-16 lead with 6:21 remaining in the first half. Martin and Garstka deposited six points apiece during the spurt, while Sienkiwicz poured in five points.

The Lyons dwindled their deficit down to six points at the 5:38 mark as Capstick canned back-to-back layups, but Springfield responded once again outscoring the visitors 18-9 down the stretch to take a 44-29 advantage into the break.

Springfield remained hot from the field in the second half shooting 59.4-percent (19-for-32) to outscore the visitors 52-35 in the stanza and capture its seventh league victory of the season.

Wheaton (4-16, 1-9 NEWMAC) travels to Clark University next Wednesday for a NEWMAC contest at 7 p.m. Springfield (15-6, 7-3) hits the road to take on nationally ranked Babson on Wednesday, also at 7 p.m.

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