Western New England University

WALTHAM, Mass. (November 7, 2026) – Graduate Student Cody Palazzesi made an immediate impact for the Western New England men's basketball team, which earned a 67-61 victory over the Judges of Brandeis University on Saturday evening to earn their first victory of the season on opening night. 

Records:

• Western New England: 1-0
• Brandeis University: 0-1

How it Happened:

First Half:

• Western New England had just one point through the opening seven minutes of the game, but the Judges struggled to find their offensive footing in the game, scoring just four points of their own. The Golden Bears saw transfer Nate Charlot score the first field goal of the season, picking up a steal and a layup to get WNE back within one, 4-3. 
• Scoring began to pick up quickly, as Brandeis held an 11-10 lead at the midway point of the frame. Will Laplante III tied the game with a layup plus a foul shot as the two teams went back and forth down to the midway point of the opening half. 
• Cody Palazzesi returned to the floor after missing a significant portion of the schedule last season and knocked down a three-pointer, while hitting a foul shot to give WNE its first lead of the night. Josh Carlson followed with five straight points of his own to give WNE a 23-16 lead with 7:31 to play in the first half.
• Brandeis answered to get within three, 26-23, with 4:11 to play, but Tahir Bey and Palazzesi hit back-to-back shots for the Golden Bears to regain the seven-point edge. A late triple from Avery Mickens would be the final points of the half, as WNE led by ten, 35-25, at the break.
• After a slow start to the game, WNE quickly heated up, starting 11/26 from the floor and 4/10 from distance. Brandeis shot just 38% from the field in the opening half. 

Second Half:

• Jason Britschge had the opening points for Western New England to start the second half. The Golden Bears held a double-digit lead for much of the second half as the game crossed into the midway point of the half. Justin Garretson had a quick four points for the Blue and Gold, while Cody Palazzesi continued to put points on the scoreboard for the WNE, who led 53-39 with 11:33 remaining in the game. 
• Brandeis got back within seven with 5:09 to play in the half when Gur Dhillon got to the rim to get the Judges within seven, 57-50. 
• Nate Charlot and Will Laplante III scored back-to-back buckets for WNE to regain the double-digit lead, but the battling Judges continued to sink WNE's lead, dropping it down to six with 2:00 to play, as WNE led 63-57. 
• Western New England used a pair of free throws by Palazzesi and a dunk to seal the win from Eddie McCoy to come away with a win on opening night, picking up a 67-61 win. 
• WNE shot 12/30 in the second half, struggling from the outside, going just 2/10. Brandeis made 12 field goals in the second half, but the Golden Bears were able to hold off the Judges down the stretch to come up with the win. 

Inside the Lines:

• Cody Palazzesi led WNE with 18 points, shooting 5/15 from the field. Palazzesi hit seven points from the free-throw line, picked up one assist, and had one steal.
• Josh Carlson played in 33 minutes for Western New England, coming away with 11 points on 4/8 shooting, going 2/6 from deep. Carlson grabbed four rebounds and an assist for WNE. 
• Eddie McCoy was also in double figures for Western New England, picking up ten points on 3/5 shooting. 
• WNE shot 41% from the floor in the opening game, hitting six triples. 
• WNE wins its first game in program history on the road over Brandeis and improves to 2-1 all-time. 

Up Next on the Schedule:

• The Golden Bears head to Springfield College on Wednesday, November 11 for a 7:00 PM tipoff before its home opener on Saturday, November 14.