With the win, Amherst won for the third time in its last four games to improve to 11-2 overall. Elms College lost for just the second time in its last eight games to fall to 8-5 overall.
The Lord Jeffs showed every bit why they are the nation’s 12th-ranked team as they shot 75.0-percent in the first 16 minutes of the first half, including 8 of 11 shooting from 3-point range to jump out to a 57-31 lead. During that stretch, Bedford connected on 7 of 8 shots, including a pair 3-pointers for 16 points.
Amherst also owned the boards as it outrebounded Elms College 24-12, including 18-6 on the defensive end to build a 67-36 lead at intermission.
Senior forward John Casnocha (San Francisco, CA) netted 14 points, including four 3-pointers, junior center Dan O’Shea (Lawrence, MA) scored 13 points, sophomore guard Andrew Olson (San Diego, CA) had 12 points in just 22 minutes and junior forward Dan Wheeler (Bloomington, MN) added 11 points to all reach double figures for the Lord Jeffs in the victory.
Sophomore forward Renato Lindmets (Springfield, MA) had 13 points, junior guard David Williams (Hartford, CT) tallied 11 points and sophomore forward Nathan Hawes (New Hope, MN) scored 10 points to reach double figures in the loss.
Elms College returns to North Atlantic Conference (NAC) play when it travels to Maine to play at Thomas College (Saturday, January 21) and Maine-Farmington (Sunday, January 22).
Newspaper Box Score Amherst College vs Elms College 01/17/06 8:00 p.m. at Chicopee, MA At Chicopee, MA AMHERST COLLEGE 111, ELMS COLLEGE 83 AMHERST COLLEGE (11-2) John Bedford 8-9 0-0 18; John Casnocha 5-8 0-0 14; Dan O'Shea 4-5 5-6 13; Andrew Olson 3-4 4-4 12; Dan Wheeler 4-6 0-0 11; Kevin Hopkins 3-3 1-2 7; Tim McLaughlin 3-6 0-0 7; Brian Baskauskas 2-2 0-0 5; Mike Salerno 2-3 0-0 5; Fletcher Walters 2-3 0-0 5; Brandon Jones 2-3 0-0 4; Adolphe Coulibaly 1-3 2-3 4; Matt Goldsmith 1-6 1-2 3; Glenn Wong 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 40-62 16-24 111. ELMS COLLEGE (8-5) Lonnie Branyon III 7-9 4-5 19; Renato Lindmets 6-11 1-4 13; David Williams 5-14 1-2 11; Nathan Hawes 2-4 6-6 10; Anthony Bernard 4-4 1-2 9; Antoine Holder 2-8 4-7 8; Malakie Berry 1-3 3-5 5; Joe Esile 1-1 0-0 3; Jacque Rivera 0-2 2-2 2; Justin Davis 1-3 0-0 2; John Ancrum 0-5 1-2 1; Hakeem Trotman 0-1 0-0 0; Randy Hite 0-2 0-0 0. Totals 29-67 23-37 83. Amherst College............... 67 44 - 111 Elms College.................. 36 47 - 83 3-point goals-Amherst College 15-26 (John Casnocha 4-7; Dan Wheeler 3-4; John Bedford 2-2; Andrew Olson 2-2; Brian Baskauskas 1-1; Mike Salerno 1-1; Fletcher Walters 1-1; Tim McLaughlin 1-4; Matt Goldsmith 0-2; Adolphe Coulibaly 0-2), Elms College 2-14 (Lonnie Branyon III 1-2; Joe Esile 1-1; David Williams 0-2; Antoine Holder 0-2; Malakie Berry 0-1; Justin Davis 0-2; John Ancrum 0-2; Hakeem Trotman 0-1; Randy Hite 0-1). Fouled out--Amherst College-None, Elms College-None. Rebounds-Amherst College 41 (Matt Goldsmith 7; John Casnocha 7; Tim McLaughlin 7), Elms College 34 (Renato Lindmets 7). Assists-Amherst College 31 (Andrew Olson 6; John Bedford 6), Elms College 14 (John Ancrum 5). Total fouls-Amherst College 31, Elms College 19. A-161 No. 12 Amherst scores its seventh highest all-time point total. Elms College loses for just the second time in its last eight games.