BABSON PARK, Mass. – The Wheaton College men's basketball team traveled to Babson College on Wednesday night where they fell 86-75 in a New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) contest at Staake Gymnasium. 

With the loss the Lyons fall to 8-11 overall and 2-7 in the NEWMAC. Babson is now 14-5 on the season and 8-1 in league play. 

Senior Billy Battaglia led all scorers with 26 points to go along with five rebounds for the Lyons, while junior Quinton Dale added 19 points, six boards and three blocks. 

Joey Flannery was one of five players to finish in double-figures, scoring 22 points, while pulling down six rebounds. Isaiah Nelsen recorded a double-double with 17 points and 10 rebounds, while Bradley Jacks added 14 points on 6-of-7 shooting for the Beavers.  

Wheaton made nine of its first 14 shots and took its biggest lead of the game at 23-17 on a layup by junior Timothy Berry with 9:31 to go in the first half. The Green and White followed eight straight points to go back in front 25-23 on a bucket by Nelsen at the 7:22 mark, and then closed the half with a 10-2 burst to take an eight-point lead at the break. Flannery started the run with a three-point play, Rice knocked down a trey and Bohmiller followed two Flannery free throws with a layup in transition to make it 43-35 going to the locker room. 

Babson used a 12-4 run that included six straight points from Stauffer to take its biggest lead of the night at 55-39 with 14:04 remaining in the contest. Battaglia, who scored 18 second-half points, and Dale helped the Lyons get as close as 69-63 with just under five minutes left before the Beavers scored on eight of their final 10 possessions to put the game away. 

Flannery knocked down a pair of free throws to make it 71-63 at the 4:28 mark, and Nick Comenale followed with a triple to push the lead back to 11 with 3:45 left. Wheaton made one final push to get within 77-70 with 1:53 left, but Nelsen scored on the ensuing possession and Comenale buried another triple on the next trip to extend the lead to 82-70.

Wheaton returns to the court on Saturday, Feb. 6 for a 1 p.m. home contest against Springfield. 

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