BABSON PARK, Mass. - Senior Nick Comenale (New York Mills, N.Y.) poured in a game-high 26 points to help the seventh-ranked Babson College men's basketball team defeat visiting Worcester State, 101-52, in the opening round of the Babson Invitational Tournament Saturday afternoon.
THE BASICS
November 18, 2017
Staake Gymnasium
Score: Babson 101, Worcester State 52
Records: Babson (2-0) | Worcester State (0-2)
1ST HALF
Comenale scored 11 early points and the Green and White used a 17-3 run over the final 5:03 of the first half to build a 17-point lead at the break. The Beavers bench scored 15 of the 17 points during the spurt, including nine by sophomore Julian Alexis (Somerville, N.J.), and got a runner in the lane from Comenale with five seconds left in the period to make it 42-25 after 20 minutes.
2ND HALF
Babson put the game away with a 33-5 run over the first nine minutes of the second half. Comenale scored 13 points during the burst, while senior Tim Hasbargen (Munich, Germany) and senior Bradley Jacks (Fort Washington, Md.) added eight points apiece as the hosts pushed their advantage to 75-30 with 11:18 left.
DOWN FOR A COUNT
- Comenale went 10-of-16 from the floor and knocked down five three-pointers for the Beavers.
- Babson's Alexis finished with 10 points, while Hasbargen added nine points and four rebounds. Classmate Frank Oftring (North Attleboro, Mass.) pulled down a game-high seven boards and senior Chris Lowry (Union, Conn.) led all players with six assists.
- Sophomore Cal Howes (Maynard, Mass.) finished with 17 points and six rebounds to lead the Lancers. First-year Erik Bjorn (Holden, Mass.) also chipped in with six points and six boards in the loss.
- The Green and White shot 56.1 percent for the game, which included a 24-of-36 effort (66.7 percent) effort in the second half.
- The Beavers also knocked down 11 three-pointers and outscored Worcester State 48-22 in the paint.
- The Lancers shots just 23.1 percent for the game and were 2-of-28 from beyond the arc.
- Saturday's meeting was the first since 1999 and just the third since 1985 between the Beavers and Worcester State. The Beavers now lead the all-time series 6-1.
UP NEXT
Both teams return to action on tomorrow (Nov. 19). Babson will play against Endicott in the tournament championship game at 3 p.m., while Worcester State will be part of the 1 p.m. consolation game and will matchup against Regis.
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Release Courtesy of Babson Sports Information