Springfield, Mass. - January 5, 2022 - Competing for the first time since December 11, the Springfield College men's basketball team was bested by No. 24 WPI, 68-52, in both squads New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) opener on Wednesday afternoon in Blake Arena.

The Engineers, who were ranked No. 24 in this week's D3hoops.com National Poll, improved to 9-1, while the Pride, who was competing against a nationally-ranked opponent for the third consecutive game this season, slipped to 2-8. 

Panayiotis Kapanides (Bedford, Mass.) led Springfield with 12 points and nine rebounds, while Daryl Costa (Providence, R.I.) chipped in nine points and six assists.  Tre Hodge (Springfield, Mass.) added eight points and four steals and Curtiss Blische (Barkhamsted, Conn.) hauled in eight rebounds for a Springfield squad that shot 18-for-59 (30%) in the contest.

John Adams and John Lowther were dominant inside as the duo combined for 34 points and 21 rebounds, as Adams produced a double double of 15 points and 13 caroms, including six on the offensive glass.   WPI turned 14 Springfield turnovers in 20 points and had 17 second-chance points thanks to 15 offensive boards.  WPI finished the game shooting 27-for-69 (39%)

After Hodge drilled a triple to give Springfield a 6-2 edge just over three minutes into the contest, the Engineers poured on a 14-0 run over the next four-plus minutes to open up a 16-6 edge following a three-pointer from David Sevilla.  Another bucket from downtown by Kaleb Downing with under three minutes to go in the half gave the visitors a 34-10 lead as they went into the half with a 34-14 advantage.  

Springfield kicked off the second half with a 7-2 spurt, as Kapanides connected from beyond the arc to pull the Pride within 36-21 with 18:30 on the clock.  However, Downing answered with back-to-back trifectas to push the lead back to 21 in a frame where the hosts would get no closer than 16 points.  The Pride outscored WPI in the second half, 38-34, with Costa contributing a team-best nine points. 

Springfield is scheduled to travel to face Babson on Saturday at 1 pm. 

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