Box Score WORCESTER, Mass.--Western New England University had its best shooting performance of the young campaign to beat host Clark University, 79-72, in non-conference men's basketball action at the Kneller Athletic Center on Monday. With the win, the Golden Bears snap a four-game losing streak to improve to 2-4 on the season; the Cougars are also 2-4 overall.

Junior Zack Askew and sophomore Mike Gelineau scored 16 points apiece, senior co-captain Musa Elsir added 13 and freshman Lucien Fortier came off the bench to contribute 10, as Western New England made 33 of 59 field goals for 55.9 percent--the first time the team shot over 50 percent in 2014-15--on an array of layups, mid-range jumpers and long-range shots.

The Golden Bears also controlled the interior, enjoying a 39-29 rebounding advantage and getting many lay-ups. Askew grabbed a game- and season-high 14 rebounds, Fortier had nine and Elsir, six. The visitors also outscored the Cougars in the paint, 32-22, and had a 20-13 bulge in second-chance points.

Nick Daprato and Tyler Huffman notched 19 and 17 points, respectively, for Clark, which was held to just a 40.3 clip from the field (25-62).

Both teams shot extremely well in the first half with Clark dropping in eight 3-pointers and the Golden Bears shooting a sizzling 65 percent (18-for-28), taking a five-point lead at the intermission.
 
Huffman was the offensive star of the first 20 minutes, draining four first-half treys as the Scarlet and White surged ahead by as many as eight following his fourth made three-pointer at 29-21.
 
After Huffman found Andrew Musler underneath for an easy hoop making the score 34-26, WNE embarked on a half-ending 17-4 run that featured a pair of triples from Gelineau and another from freshman Nelson Zayas (7 points, 2 steals) that saw the Golden Bears jump ahead 43-38 at the half. Western New England would not relinquish the lead again after Gelineau's trey made it 36-34 and Elsir's jump shot in the key (38-36) on its next possession.
 
Clark got as close as two early in the second half when Lamar Berk converted a conventional three-point play and Joseph Atkinson (7 points, 7 assists, 4 steals) dropped in a transition jumper, making the score 47-45.
 
Western New England answered back with a 12-4 run highlighted by two Gelineau three-pointers and a strong interior finish by Askew. The Golden Bears led by as many as 10 points on three occasions in the second half.
 
The Cougars got as close as five a few times, including once after a Huffman three-pointer and a pair of Musler free throws, making the score 66-61 with under six minutes to play, but every time CU crept closer, WNE had the answer.
 
Clark was within five again at 75-70 with a little more than a minute to play after a DaPrato layup, but an aggressive interior finish by Elsir put the game away with 53 seconds to go.
 
Western New England opens up Commonwealth Coast Conference action with a road trip to Curry College on Wednesday in Milton, while Clark will have little time before returning to the hardwood as they travel to Connecticut College on Tuesday evening.

(Editor's note: Clark Sports Information contributed to this game recap.)