Mammoths topple Cardinals with 71-67 triumph

Mammoths topple Cardinals with 71-67 triumph | https://athletics.amherst.edu/

By Press release submission

Jan 30, 2023

Mammoths topple Cardinals with 71-67 triumph

Junior forward Dan Schlakman recorded his first career double-double as the Amherst College men's basketball team rallied from a nine-point deficit for a 71-67 win over Little Three rival Wesleyan University in NESCAC action on Friday night at LeFrak Gymnasium.

The Mammoths improved to 8-11 overall and 3-3 in conference play and snapped the 11-game winning streak of defending NESCAC champion Wesleyan. The Cardinals fell to 13-6 overall and 4-1 in the NESCAC with their first conference loss of the season.

The win keeps Amherst in the hunt for a share of the Little Three Championship. If Wesleyan beats Williams in their matchup on Feb. 4, there will be a three-way tie for the title for the second straight season. The Ephs will capture the title outright with a win.

The Mammoths return to action tomorrow (Saturday, Jan. 28), hosting Trinity at 3 p.m. in LeFrak Gymnasium.

GAME HIGHLIGHTS:

* Most of the first half was a one-possession game, with neither team gaining a lead of more than three points until a layup from senior guard Shackylle Dezonie gave the Cardinals a 23-18 lead with 8:13 to go in the first half. A minute later, senior guard Preston Maccoux hit a three to put Wesleyan up by seven.

* The Mammoths responded with an 8-1 run with six of those points scored by Schlakman. Amherst tied the game at 31-31 when Schlakman scored under the basket with 2:41 left in the first half.

* The two sides traded baskets to close the first half as a driving layup from sophomore guard Bobby Sommers tied the score at 33-33 for halftime.

* The Cardinals went on a 12-2 run early in the second half, taking their largest lead of the game when sophomore guard Shane Regan hit one of two free throws to put Wesleyan up, 50-41, with 12:02 to play.

* The Mammoths immediately answered with 13 straight points, reclaiming the lead when first-year forward Chris Hammond intercepted a pass on the defensive end and took it all the way to the basket to give Amherst a 51-50 lead with 8:30 on the clock. Sommers followed with a three to cap the run and put the Mammoths up by four.

* The Cardinals came back to tie the game at 60-60 when sophomore forward Jared Langs converted a contested layup with 4:08 to play but the Mammoths scored on the next possession with first-year center Charlie Randall draining a turnaround jumper in the paint.

* The two squads traded baskets again with a Dezonie jumper answered by a floater from sophomore guard C.J. Mitchell that gave the Mammoths a 64-62 lead with 2:09 on the clock. Mitchell drew fouls on the next two Amherst possessions and sunk all four free throws to push the lead to six points.

* A three from Macoux and a layup by sophomore guard Nicky Johnson brought the Cardinals back within one with 30 seconds to play, but Schlakman hit three of four free throws in the final moments and Amherst defense kept Wesleyan from scoring again.