Amherst junior John Casnocha (San Francisco, CA) was similarly impressive with 14 points on the strength of 4-for-6 shooting from three-point land to go along with a team-high six rebounds. Senior Andrew Schiel (Wayne, PA) chipped in with 11 points and a game-high four steals in just 21 minutes.
The action was fairly even early on with seven lead changes over the game’s first 11:17. After Clark knotted the score at 17-17 with a free throw by junior center Tim Dutille (Sunapee, NH), the host Jeffs took the lead for good on the first of two straight long-range bombs by Casnocha. Casnocha then gave Amherst a seven-point advantage at the break with yet another trifecta off a penetration and kick-out by Bedford.
It was all Amherst after the intermission as the Jeffs opened the second stanza with a 16-4 downpour, highlighted by a trio of breakaway layups off steals by Schiel and senior guards Ray Corrigan (Queens, NY) and Russell Lee (Lorton, VA).
After Corrigan went down with an ankle injury with 13:31 left in regulation, Amherst rookie playmaker Andrew Olson (San Diego), who was stellar throughout, sparked a 15-6 barrage with a variety of slick passes, including a deft dish off the glass that resulted in a resounding jam by fellow first-year Kevin Hopkins (Greenfield Center, NY), who was trailing on the play.
Olson was outstanding in just his third collegiate game, playing 21 minutes and tallying eight points, four assists, a pair of rebounds and just two turnovers. Corrigan and Lee added seven points each.
Adam Miller (Shrewsbury, MA) paced Clark in defeat with 14 points and a game-high 10 rebounds. Dutille finished with 14 points as well before fouling out with 4:30 remaining.
Amherst returns to action this Friday and Saturday at the Pioneer Valley Invitational Tournament, hosted by Westfield State College.