The win halts the Lyons' three-game losing skid and moves them to 5-5 in the conference and 14-9 overall. The Engineers have dropped their last four games, having entered the contest on a three-game losing streak of their own. The loss puts WPI at 6-3 in conference play and 16-6 on the season.
The Engineers started the game with a quick basket and proceeded to pad their lead through the first half of the stanza behind the strong shooting of sophomore Mike Prestileo (South Windsor, CT/South Windsor), who finished the half with eight points (3-3 FG, 2-2 3-pt FG). WPI had an impressive shooting performance in the opening half, converting on 13-of-22 (.591) from the field, but Wheaton managed to close the gap midway through the stanza.
A Josean Vega (Pawtucket, RI/St. Raphael's) three-pointer brought the Lyons to within three points at 24-21 with 8:45 to play and following a five-minute span of scoreless play, Wheaton continued to cut into its deficit. With 2:35 to go, Vega collected a loose ball and deposited two of his 12 first-half points to knot the score at 27-27. The teams headed into the locker room with WPI leading 32-31.
A see-saw battle ensued in the second half and followed suit through the majority of the half, as the teams exchanged leads seven times with three ties through the final twenty minutes of play. Wheaton took only its third lead of the game in the first minute of the stanza, as sophomore guard Sean Kelly (Providence, RI/Wheeler School) drilled a three-pointer to put the Blue and White in front 35-34.
Trailing 56-53 with 5:14 remaining, Wheaton sophomore James Greenslit (Framingham, MA/Rivers School) bucketed a three and Vega converted two free throws seconds later to give the Lyons a lead that they would not relinquish. Vega and senior Scott Mahan (Bridgewater, MA/Cardinal Spellman) hit key free throws down the stretch and senior Frankie Whall (Roslindale, MA/Cheshire Academy) had a reverse lay-up to clinch the eight-point victory.
Vega posted a game-best 19 points (6-11 FG), while Mahan had a memorable Senior Day with 16 points and game-high eight rebounds. Whall added 13 points (6-9 FG) in the victory.
Prestileo paced WPI with 13 points (5-9 FG, 3-5 3-pt FG). Freshman Scott Misiaszek (Old Lyme, CT/Old Lyme) chipped in 11 points, while sophomores Brett Dickson (Bedford, NH/Manchester West) and Brian Steele (Whitinsville, MA/Northbridge) added eight points apiece.
The Lyons will take this Tuesday off and head back on the road on Thursday, February 19 to face conference opponent Babson College. Game time is slated for a 7:00 p.m. start.
Newspaper Box Score WPI vs Wheaton College 2/14/04 1:00 p.m. at Emerson Gymnasium, Norton, Mass. At Emerson Gymnasium, Norton, Mass. WHEATON COLLEGE 70, WPI 62 WPI (16-6) Mike Prestileo 5-9 0-0 13; Scott Misiaszek 4-10 3-6 11; Brian Steele 3-7 1-4 8; Brett Dickson 3-3 2-2 8; Ryan Cain 3-4 0-0 7; Sean Ivey 2-4 0-0 4; Ian Bonzani 2-5 0-0 4; Ryan Flynn 1-5 2-2 4; Steve Furber 1-1 1-2 3; John Costello 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 24-49 9-16 62. WHEATON COLLEGE (14-9) Josean Vega 6-11 5-8 19; Scott Mahan 4-10 6-8 16; Frankie Whall 6-9 1-2 13; Sean Kelly 2-4 2-2 7; Mark Ledwell 2-5 1-2 5; James Greenslit 2-3 0-0 5; Brian Zukowski 1-1 1-2 3; Mike Stanton 0-1 2-2 2; Richard Henninger 0-3 0-0 0. Totals 23-47 18-26 70. WPI........................... 32 30 - 62 Wheaton College............... 31 39 - 70 3-point goals-WPI 5-11 (Mike Prestileo 3-5; Ryan Cain 1-1; Brian Steele 1-2; Ian Bonzani 0-1; Ryan Flynn 0-2), Wheaton College 6-12 (Scott Mahan 2-2; Josean Vega 2-5; Sean Kelly 1-1; James Greenslit 1-2; Mike Stanton 0-1; Frankie Whall 0-1). Fouled out--WPI-None, Wheaton College-None. Rebounds-WPI 21 (Ian Bonzani 4), Wheaton College 30 (Scott Mahan 8). Assists-WPI 15 (Ryan Flynn 3; Ryan Cain 3; Brian Steele 3), Wheaton College 17 (Sean Kelly 3). Total fouls-WPI 22, Wheaton College 17.