NEWPORT, R.I. – Sophomore guard Sal Pedevillano (Parsippany, N.J.) poured in a career-high 22 points to lead the Wheaton College (Mass.) men's basketball team over host Salve Regina University, 65-48, this afternoon in New England Women's & Men's Athletic Conference play at Rodgers Recreation Center in Newport, R.I.
The Lyons have won three of their last four and improve to 12-8 overall and 6-6 in league play, while the Seahawks fall to 10-12 and 4-9.
Wheaton's defense was suffocating, holding Salve Regina to just 27.9% (17-61) from the field, including a paltry 5-28 (17.9%) from three-point range. The Lyons' transition game was clicking the entire afternoon, outscoring their hosts, 19-4, on the fast break. The Seahawks' point total was the lowest by a Wheaton foe this season.
Pedevillano was 7-13 from the field, including 4-9 from long range and added four rebounds, three assists and a pair of steals for the Lyons. Sophomore forward Eoin Morrissey (Watertown, Mass.) finished a rebound shy of a double-double with nine boards and 13 points on 6-10 shooting, while junior guard Ty Murphy (Dedham, Mass.) contributed with eight points, a block and a steal in just 15 minutes off the bench.
Junior guard Declan Walmsley (Franklin, Mass.) led Salve Regina with 12 points and added seven boards and two assists, while first year forward Brady Spencer (Pembroke, Mass.) also netted 12 points on 4-6 from the floor in addition to a rebound, an assist and a blocked shot. Senior guard Clay Brochu (North Kingstown, R.I.) chipped in with 11 points, six rebounds, a pair of steals and a block.
Wheaton scored the first seven points of the game, including four from Pedevillano. Walmsley knocked down a jumper to give the Seahawks their first points of the game after being held scoreless for the first 7:17 of play. Salve Regina later put together an 8-2 run, capped by a three-pointer from Walmsley to give the home team it's only lead of the afternoon at 14-13 with 6:29 showing in the opening half.
Morrissey scored the next five points to give the Lyons the lead for good at 18-14 with 4:55 left in the half. Brochu converted a layup at the 3:28 mark to cut the deficit to 20-18 for the Seahawks, but Wheaton put together a 9-2 stretch, fueled by seven points from Pedevillano, to take a 29-20 advantage with 61 seconds to go in the half. Brochu converted a pair of free throws for the final points of the session for Salve Regina to cut the margin to 29-22 before the break.
Pedevillano picked up where he left off, drilling a three-pointer and adding a layup for the first five points of the second half to increase the visitors' lead to 34-22 within the first 70 seconds of the new stanza. The Seahawks scored the next four points to get within 34-26 at the 16:33 mark of the half, but it was as close as they would get for the remainder of the contest.
Murphy scored all eight of his points during a 12-6 run that saw the Lyons extend their advantage to 46-32 with 12:26 to go in the game. Walmsley later made a layup to cut the margin to 50-38 with 8:40 to play in the half, before Wheaton put the game out of reach with a 15-4 stretch, paced by a pair of three-balls from Pedevillano, to give the Lyons their largest lead at 65-42 with 1:09 showing on the second half clock.
Walmsley and Brochu each canned a three-pointer for the final points of the game for Salve Regina to set the final at 65-48.
Both teams return to the court to face Babson College. Wheaton hosts the Beavers on Wednesday, February 7 at 7:00 p.m. in Emerson Gymnasium, while the Seahawks travel to Babson Park, Mass. on February 10 for a 3:00 p.m. tip-off.
