Springfield, Mass. - November 8, 2023 - The Springfield College men's basketball team was edged by Western New England, 69-62, on Wednesday night in the season opener for both squads.

Gary Bess (Miami, Fla.) netted a team-best 12 points in his Springfield College debut, John Paulino (New Bedford, Mass.) and Zeke Blauner (Dobbs Ferry, N.Y.) added 11 points apiece, and Joe Hoch (South Ozone Park, N.Y.) chipped in 10 points.  Josiah Evely (Toronto, Ontario) pulled down eight rebounds for a Springfield team that shot 22-for-71 (31%) and was edged on the glass by a 47-39 margin.

Hoch converted a crafty finish inside to give Springfield an early 11-8 advantage at the 15:38 mark of the first half.  The hosts would respond with a 13-0 surge over the next five-plus minutes to open up a 21-11 lead before Tre Hodge (Springfield, Mass.) stepped into a triple with just over 10 minutes to play to bring the Pride within seven points.  Bess would bury a three-pointer of his own with 6:05 on the clock to make it a 26-21 game and Nick Bray (Hartford, Conn.) drilled Springfield's fifth three of the half as WNE's lead was trimmed to  31-27 with 2:23 left in the half.  The hosts would close out the frame on a 6-2 push to take a 37-29 lead into the break. 

Springfield scored the first five points of the second half to make it a one-score game following a three from Blauner at 18:43 as Springfield pulled within striking distance.  With 6:31 on the clock, WNE would push its lead back to seven at 55-48, only to have Blauner can another three and Paulino deliver an acrobatic finish while getting fouled as his three-point play with 5:38 made it a one-point game. Paulino would later knock down two from the charity stripe to put Springfield ahead 59-58, capping off an 11-3 burst, but WNE would come down and make two free throws of their won the next time down the court to take the lead for good.  The Golden Bears would close out the game on a 11-3 run as Springfield committed four turnovers and missed its final six field goal attempts down the stretch.  

Springfield will travel to New Jersey this weekend for a pair of games, beginning with a 5 pm showdown with Rutgers Newark on Friday night.

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