SPRINGFIELD, Mass. -- Seniors Aaron Williams (Springfield, Mass.) (25) and Alex Carlisle (Saint Johnsbury, Vt.) (23) combined for 48 points to lead the Wheaton College (Mass.) men's basketball team over host Springfield College, 84-71, this afternoon in New England Women's & Men's Athletic Conference action at Blake Arena in Springfield, Mass.

The Lyons improve to 11-9 overall and 6-4 in league play, while the Pride fall to 6-15 and 3-7.

Wheaton defeats Springfield on the road for the first time since a 67-64 victory on January 28, 2009. The Lyons also sweep the season series against the Pride for the first time since the 1999-2000 campaign.

Wheaton held its host to just 38.1% (24-63) shooting, including a paltry 14.3% (3-21) from three-point range. The Lyons outrebounded Springfield, 43-33, and knocked down nine three-pointers. Wheaton was outstanding from the line as well, sinking 25 of 27 tries for a 92.6% success rate for the ninth-best percentage in a game in school history.

Williams was 11-12 from the free throw line to record double-digit made free throws for the fifth time this season and give him 122 makes on the year for the ninth-highest single-season total ever for a Lyon. He also added 12 boards for his ninth double-double of the season and added three blocks and an assist. Carlisle was 6-10 from the floor, including 2-4 from three-point range and converted all nine of his free throw tries to go with six rebounds, three assists and a steal. Sophomore guard Ty Murphy (Dedham, Mass.) drilled five trifectas in eight attempts for 15 points off the bench for his fifth outing this year with five or more three-balls. He also added three assists and a rebound and first year forward Eoin Morrissey (Watertown, Mass.) contributed with eight points on 3-3 from the floor in addition to seven boards and a pair of assists.

Sophomore guard Tre Hodge (Springfield, Mass.) led the Pride with 13 points off the bench on 3-6 from the floor and 7-8 from the line to go with 1 rebound, an assist and a blocked shot, while first year forward Josiah Evely (Toronto, Ont.) also netted 13 points in reserve to go with four rebounds, an assist and a block. Senior guard Daryl Costa (Providence, R.I.) chipped in with 10 points, an assist and a game-high five steals.

Wheaton never trailed in the game and scored the first seven points of the afternoon as part of an 18-8 stretch through the first seven minutes of action. Williams paced the Lyons' start with six points. 

Springfield responded with a 7-2 burst, fueled by five points from first year guard John Paulino (New Bedford, Mass.), to cut the deficit to 20-15 with 9:42 left in the opening half.

Wheaton scored seven unanswered points as part of a 20-2 stretch, led by seven points each from Williams and Carlisle, to give the Lyons a 40-17 advantage with 4:13 to go in the first stanza. Murphy canned a three-pointer as time expired to give Wheaton a 45-24 lead at the intermission.

The Pride scored the first six points of the second session, including a three-pointer from senior forward Panayiotis Kapanides (Bedford, Mass.), to pull Springfield to within 45-30 at the 18:42 mark of the half.

The Lyons effectively left no doubt about the outcome, going on a 13-2 blitz, including 10 points from Carlisle to increase Wheaton's lead to 58-32 with 15:53 showing on the second half clock.

The Lyons maintained their largest lead at 65-39 wtih 13:07 to play and later owned an 83-63 cushion with just 2:02 to go in the game.

The Pride closed out the game by scoring seven of the final eight points to close within 84-71 for the final. 

Wheaton returns to action on Wednesday, February 8 when it travels to Worcester, Mass. to take on NEWMAC foe Clark University at 7:00 p.m., while Springfield heads to Babson Park, Mass. on the same night to play Babson College in conference play at 7:00 p.m.