Box Score SPRINGFIELD, Mass.--Senior center Dennis Rinaldi and junior wing Musa Elsir both scored a game-high 15 points to lead another balanced offensive effort by Western New England in an 86-58 victory Saturday over the University of New England in Commonwealth Coast Conference men's basketball action at the Alumni Healthful Living Center during Coaches Versus Cancer Suits and Sneakers weekend. The host Golden Bears won their second-straight to improve to 5-11 on the season, including a 3-7 conference ledger, while the Nor'easters slip to 1-16 and 1-9.

Freshman guard Justin Pollard was the only UNE scorer in double-digits with 15 points, including three 3-pointers, and he grabbed four rebounds. Sam Thomas (8 points, 3 blocked shots) and William Abdul-Malak both came off the bench to pull down a team-best five boards.

The Golden Bears also got big contributions from senior Nick DeFeo who added 14 points, sophomore Zack Askew (2 blocks) scored 12 and senior Kevin Wilkes (2 blocks) chipped in 11 off the bench for a WNE team that established season highs in margin of victory (28 points), three-pointers (11), 3-point field goal percentage (.579; 11-19), assists (22) and points scored (86).

Both teams traded buckets in the early going with neither team gaining more than a three-point lead until the Golden Bears got on a 23-7 run to end the first half, turning a 19-18 lead at the 9:52 mark into a 42-25 cushion at the intermission. Western New England shot 59.3 percent (16-27) in the first, when the Nor'easters shot only 24.2 percent (8-33).

Western New England also enjoyed a lead in the rebounding totals, 42-36. Senior Ryan Mickiewicz led all players with eight boards, followed by sophomores Tizauni Boyles, Luis Agrait (3 steals) and Rinaldi with five apiece.

The Nor'easters employed a full-court press for much of the game, but the swift passing of the Golden Bears guards easily broke down the defense into 32 points in the paint. Western New England passed very well evidenced by 22 assists on 30 made baskets, as Mickiewicz dished a game-best seven (against only two turnovers) to go along with two steals.

Askew threw down a monster dunk off an assist from DeFeo--one of his four on the day--in the second half, which ignited an 8-0 WNE run and a 65-35 advantage. Western New England built as much as a 33-point lead and maintained it by double-digits for the entire second half.

For the game, WNE made 30 of 59 field goal attempts for 50.8 percent while UNE was 18 of 65 for a 27.7 clip
 
The Golden Bears next take on Curry College on the road on Wednesday in another CCC matchup.