Springfield, Mass. – January 20, 2024 – The Springfield College men's basketball team snapped its four game losing skid with an 80-69 win over MIT in New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) play inside Blake Arena this afternoon.

Springfield improved to 6-12 overall and to 3-6 in NEWMAC action, while MIT fell to 2-16, 1-8. With today's win, Springfield and MIT split this year's season series after the Engineers edged the Pride 72-71 on December 6 in Cambridge.

The Pride were led by senior Zeke Blauner (Dobbs Ferry, N.Y.), who tallied 14 points, four rebounds and two assists, while sophomore John Paulino (New Bedford, Mass.) notched 11 points, eight assists, four rebounds and three steals. Graduate student Joe Hoch (South Ozone Park, N.Y.) registered ten points, eight rebounds, two assists and two steals and sophomore Josiah Evely (Toronto, Ontario) had eight points, five rebounds, three blocks and two assists. Isaac Dobie posted 27 points for MIT to lead all players this afternoon.

A jumper by junior Curtiss Blische (Barkhamsted, Conn.) and a three pointer by Evely gave Springfield an early 5-0 edge as the Pride held MIT scoreless for the first 3:22 of the contest. A minute later, a trey by Hoch extended Springfield's edge to seven at 9-2 before MIT came back to tie the score at 9-9 and at 22-22 with 8:28 to play in the first. Springfield held a 20-11 lead following an 11-2 run that was capped by a three from first-year Jeremy Brown (Queensland, Australia) before the Engineers came back for a second time. Both teams traded the lead over the waning minutes of the opening stanza and the Pride outscored the Engineers, 9-2, down the stretch to take a 36-33 lead into the break.

Springfield outscored MIT, 15-8, over the opening 6:47 of the second half to take a double-digit lead for the first time in the game at 51-41. As they did in the first half, the Engineers battled back with a quick 12-2 run of their own to even the score at 53-53 midway through the half. Springfield took the lead for what would be the final time of the contest at 56-53 following a trey by Hoch. That shot kickstarted a 9-3 run and just six minutes later, Springfield took its largest lead of the game of 16 points at 77-61 en route to the 80-69 NEWMAC victory.

Springfield scored 34 points in the paint and 18 points off MIT turnovers. The Pride also held a huge 51-33 advantage on the glass and tallied 12 blocks to MIT's one. As a team, the Pride shot 41.9-percent from the floor.

The Pride will return with a road matchup with Wheaton College next Saturday at 5:00 pm.

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