Springfield, Mass. - November 17, 2021 - Playing in Blake Arena for the first time 620 days, the Springfield College men's basketball team was clipped by Eastern Connecticut State, 73-70, in non-conference play on Wednesday night in Blake Arena.

The win evens the Warriors record to 2-2, while Springfield improved to 0-3. 

Zeke Blauner (Dobbs Ferry, N.H.) was sensational for Springfield in his first collegiate home game as he poured in 27 points on 8-of-12 shooting to go along with four steals, while Collin Lindsay (East Longmeadow, Mass.) added 17 points and five boards.  Panayiotis Kapanides (Bedford, Mass.) pulled down a team-best seven rebounds and Casey Lane (Wilton, N.H.) netted 13 points off the bench.  Springfield shot 49% from the field in the game, but surrendered 17 second-chance points off 11 ECSU offensive rebounds.

For ECSU, Quinton Lott was dominant down low with 27 points and 11 rebounds, including eight on the offensive glass.  Cade Ensinger connected on five three-pointers en route to 17 points, and Thomas Close added 16 points.  Max Lee handed out a game-high eight assists as the Warriors totaled 21 helpers on 27 made field goals. 

In the opening 20 minutes, ECSU made the most of 10 Springfield turnovers as the visitors turned the miscues into 18 points.  After Blauner finished at the rim off a great look from Daryl Costa (Providence, R.I.) to even the game at 7-7 at the 16:27 mark, the Warriors poured on an 18-2 run over the next four minutes to take a 25-9 lead following a triple from Close.  The visitors lead would balloon to 32-13 with just under six minutes to play in frame after an inside bucket from Ben Toussaint, only to have the Pride's offense come alive with a half-ending 11-1 push to make it a 33-24 game at the halftime break. Lane kickstarted the run with five-straight points and Blauner hit a turnaround jumper at the horn to complete the first half scoring. 

A trifecta from Blauner followed by a a three-point play by Lindsay pulled Springfield within 43-39 with 15:07 left ot play, but Eastern would answer back with a 12-2 surge, as Edsinger banked in a deep three at the end of the shot clock to push the visitors lead back to 55-41 at 11:30. Behind the tremendous play of Blauner, Springfield stormed back into the game with a 15-4 run to make it 59-56 with less than seven minutes in regulation as the sophomore netted 12 points in a five-minute stretch.  Casey would later drill a three from the left wing to trim ECSU's lead to 66-65 with 3:15 on the clock, and Kapanides delivered a smooth turnaround jumper in the paint with 1:32 left to play as Springfield snagged its first lead of the ball game at 69-68.  With 19 ticks on the clock, Lott powered his way to the rim for an easy finish as ECSU regained a one-point edge, but Lindsay was fouled with nine seconds on the clock.  After he made the first, ECSU called for a timeout, and Lindsay missed the second, setting up later heroics for the Warriors as Lee found Close in the corner for a triple in the waning seconds to lift the Warriors to the win.  

The Pride will head to New Hampshire on Saturday night as Springfield takes on Keene State at 7 pm.

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