WORCESTER, Mass., January 21, 2006 - Springfield College senior forward Mike DeCesar (Acton, Mass.) scored a team-high 15 points on 7-of-15 shooting from the field, but it was the Clark University Cougars which defeated the Pride, 66-58, in a New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) men's basketball contest this afternoon.

SC built a 29-22 lead after the first 20 minutes of play behind nine points from DeCesar. Senior guard Derek Yvon (East Longmeadow, Mass.) added eight in the opening stanza as the Pride shot the ball at a 42.9-percent clip (12-28) heading into the break. SC held the Cougars to just 22 points, as Clark made just one of its eight three-point field goal attempts (12.5%).

Clark responded in the second half, however, outscoring the Pride by a 44-29 margin in the final 20 minutes to take the 66-58 victory. The Cougars improve to 8-8 overall and 3-2 in the NEWMAC, as SC falls to 5-12 and 1-4 in the conference. Clark senior forward Tim Dutille scored a game-high 26 points on an impressive 11-of-15 shooting from the field, as he added nine rebounds, two blocks and two steals.

The Pride will next host Coast Guard in a NEWMAC tilt on Tuesday evening, January 24, in a 5:30 p.m. tip-off.

published: 01/23/2006