Springfield, Mass. - January 25, 2016 - The Springfield College men's basketball team used a 29-9 run midway through the second half to ease past cross-town rival Western New England, 77-61, in non-conference action on Monday evening.

The Pride has now won its last three games to improve to 7-10, while WNE drops to 6-11.

Josh Altman (Rockport, Mass.) led all players with 26 points as he went 8-for-15 from the field, including 5-of-8 from deep, while Brandon Eckles (East Greenwich, R.I.) set a new career-high with 20 points, shooting 9-for-12.  Andy McNulty (West Springfield, Mass.) had a strong game running the point for the Pride, notching eight points, six assists, and three rebounds.  Larry Piretra (Oakland, N.J.) hauled in a game-high 12 boards as Springfield shot 52.5% from the floor and held a 42-24 edge in the paint.

The Golden Bears were paced by the shooting of Mike Gelineau (Waltham, Mass.), as he pumped in 18 points, while Gerald McDonald (Boca Raton, Fla.) chipped in nine points off the bench.  WNE was held to just 37.7% from the floor, shooting 23-for-61.

Springfield opened up its largest lead of the half, a 27-22 cushion, after Altman canned a deep three with 7:44 remaining on the clock.  The visitors responded with a 10-4 push, capped off by a fast break bucket by Tizauni Boyles (Lynn, Mass.), to regain a 27-26 lead.  A jumper in the paint by McDonald would push WNE's lead to 31-28 with 3:44 to play, only to have the Pride close out the half on a 8-2 surge to take a 36-33 lead into the half.  Springfield shot 48.5% from the floor in the opening 20 minutes of play, with Eckles and Altman each scoring eight points for the hosts.

The Golden Bears climbed within three at 39-36 just 1:31 into the contest following a triple by Daniel Silva (Seekonk, Mass.). However, a three-point play Eckles on the ensuing play kickstarted a 29-9 run over the next 10 minutes as the Pride broke open the game.  Altman was unstoppable in the stretch, pouring in 20 points for the Pride, including four buckets from beyond the arc.   Springfield cruised the rest of the half, never letting the visitors get closer than 15 as it picked up the 16-point non-league win.

Springfield will return to New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) play on Wednesday evening when it travels to Emerson for a 5:30 contest.