NORTON, Mass. - The Babson College men's basketball team remained perfect in New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) action on Saturday afternoon after defeating host Wheaton College 92-81 in Emerson Gymnasium. 

The loss drops the Lyons to 7-7 on the season and 1-3 in NEWMAC action, while the Beavers improve to 10-4 overall and 4-0 in conference. The win is also the Beavers 19th straight win on a Saturday. 

Senior Billy Battaglia led the Lyons with 23 points on a 5-8 performance from the three-point line and 4-4 shooting from the free-throw line. Battaglia also finished with a game-high six assists to go with a block and two steals. Timothy Berry chipped in 15 points in Wheaton's efforts, while Quinton Dale and David Carbonello each needed 14. Dale led Wheaton in rebounds, collecting a team-high seven. 

Joey Flannery finished the contest with a game-high 36 points on a 10-22 performance from the floor, while draining 10-12 from the charity stripe. The junior also collected a game-high nine boards, while dishing out two assists and picking up a block and a steal. Isaiah Nelson finished with 13 points in the Beaver win and Nick Comenale netted 10 points off the bench. 

Ryan Fogarty put Wheaton ahead at the start with a fast break layup at the 19:27 mark, after Battaglia took the ball away from the Beavers. Baskets by Matthew Droney, Nelsen and Sam Bohmiller helped give Babson an 8-4 lead three minutes later. Back-to-back three pointers by Dale and Berry gave the lead back to Wheaton, sparking an 11-3 run by the Lyons that put them on top 18-11 with 12:40 on the clock.

Babson had a response though, going on an 11-0 run just moments later which was capped off by a fast break dunk by Comenale. Wheaton worked its way back into the game, tying the contest at 25-25 with 5:01 remaining until halftime with a Berry layup. The Beavers earned the lead right back however, taking a 38-31 advantage into the locker room. 

Wheaton put the pressure on at the start of the second half, finding a way to tie the game at 49-49 just five minutes in. Flannery handed the lead back to the Beavers for good 15 seconds later with a layup in the paint. Wheaton kept Babson within striking distance for most of the second half pulling within two points with back-to-back free-throws by Fogarty with 3:12 to play. Babson responded by blowing the game wide open at that point, closing out the contest on a 12-5 run. 

Wheaton returns to the court on Wednesday, Jan. 20 at Emerson for a 5:30 p.m. tip-off in more NEWMAC action. 

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