Babson Park, Mass. - January 9, 2016 - In a rematch of last season's New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) Championship game, the Springfield College men's basketball team put forth an impressive offensive showing, but fell to host Babson College, 89-76, on Saturday afternoon at Stakke Gymnasium.

With the loss, Springfield is now 3-9 on the season, and 0-2 in conference play, while the Beavers are now 8-4 overall, and remain unbeaten in the NEWMAC, improving to 2-0.

The Pride were 31-of-69 (44.9%) from the floor in Saturday's matchup, but was unmatched by Babson's offense, which was 33-of-67 (49.3%), on the day. The Beavers held a 42-36 edge on the boards throughout the contest, while Springfield posted 14 assists to Babson's 11.

For Springfield, three players finished in double-figures for scoring, as graduate student Josh Altman (Rockport, Mass.) finished with a team-high 17 points, while senior Josh Downes (East Sandwich, Mass.) finished with 13 and sophomore Brandon Eckles (East Greenwich, R.I.) with 12 in the loss. Additionally, senior captain Larry Piretra (Oakland, N.J.) holstered a game-high 10 rebounds.

Babson was led by junior Joey Flannery (Acton, Mass.), who posted 28 points and nine rebounds, while classmate Isaiah Nelsen (North Andover, Mass.) notched 26 points and seven boards in the victory.

Following a jumper from Eckles just 4:42 into the contest that made it 14-10 in Babson's favor, the hosts scored eight unanswered points to take a 22-10 grasp on the lead following a pair of free-throws from Matthew Droney (Canton, Mass.) in the opening stages of the contest.

From there, the Beavers would capitalize on three three-point opportunities in ensuing possessions to take a 31-14 lead with 11:26 left in the opening stanza.Springfield would crawl all the way back to within 10 points, when senior Quinn McKenna (Litchfield, Conn.) converted a three-point play with 8:27 on the clock to make it 33-22, Babson.

A 9-2 run for the Beavers to close the opening stanza resulted in the green and white holding a 53-34 lead at the halftime break.

Altman, who scored 14 of his 17 points in the second half, came out of the locker room firing, as he picked up a pair of lay-ups in the opening minute of the period, followed by a pair of three-pointers from Piretra, as the Pride cut its deficit to 12 with 13:30 to go.

Despite a late rally, in which brought the Pride all the way back to within nine following a pair of free-throws from sophomore Andy McNulty (West Springfield, Mass.), Babson would hold on for the 89-76 victory. 

Up next, Springfield will return home on Wednesday, January 13, and will host Wheaton College in another NEWMAC tilt at 7 p.m.