Coast Guard Men Earn Spot in Basketball Tournament

The Coast Guard Academy's men's basketball team returned from an early game deficit against Wheaton College on Saturday to earn a spot in the NEWMAC tournament, while the women's team couldn't overcome Clark College and closed their season. The following information was provided by the Coast Guard Academy Athletic Department:

Men's Basketball: Coast Guard 68, Wheaton 65

Freshman Kevin Sowers had a game-high 19 points while senior Jevon James had a big second half and finished with 15 points and 12 rebounds as Coast Guard rallied from a 15-point first half deficit to beat Wheaton 68-65 and clinch a spot in the New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) tournament.

James had 11 points and nine rebounds in the second half to register his seventh double-double of the season and 19th of his career as the Bears shot 56 percent in the second half (14-25) in the regular season finale after shooting just 25 percent (7-28) in the first half.

With the win and a Clark loss to WPI, Coast Guard (10-13, 5-7) locked up the fifth-seed for the NEWMAC tournament. The Bears will play at fourth-seeded Babson on Wednesday night at 7 p.m.

Wheaton led 50-38 following a basket by Bruno Naylor with 11:58 left, but the Lyons would not score a field goal for ten minutes as the Bears used a 24-4 run capped on a bucket by sophomore Jimmy Knudsen to give Coast Guard a 62-54 lead with 2:30 left.

Anthony Coppola scored the Lyons first field goal in ten minutes to cut the deficit to 62-56 with 1:58 left.

Coast Guard led by seven, 67-60, following a pair of free throws by Knudsen with just 29 seconds left, but Wheaton did not go quietly.

Coppola made a pair of free throws with 17 seconds left. Coast Guard senior Adam Radtke made one of two with 14 seconds left for a 68-62 lead.

Brendan Degan nailed a 3-pointer to pull the Lyons to 68-65 with nine seconds left and Coast Guard turned the ball over giving Wheaton a change to tie with four seconds left.

Coppola's 3-pointer in the closing seconds was no good as the Bears held on for the win.

Freshman Devonte Weems added 12 points for Coast Guard while Knudsen had 11 rebounds off the bench.

Naylor led Wheaton with 12 points while Degnan (11), Coppola (10) and Will Bayliss (10) were also in double figures for the Lyons, who finish the season 8-16 overall and 3-9 in the NEWMAC.

Wheaton shot 33.9 percent from the field (20-59) while making just five of 26 from 3-point range.

Women's Basketball: Clark 82, Coast Guard 37

Freshman Emily Reilly led all scorers with 25 points as Clark clinched a spot in the New England Women’s and Men’s Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) tournament with a 82-37 win over Coast Guard in regular season finale for both teams.

Clark snaps a four-game losing streak to improve to 9-16 overall and 8-10 in the conference while Coast Guard finishes 3-21 overall and 1-17 in the NEWMAC. The sixth-seeded Cougars open NEWMAC tournament play on the road on Wednesday night.

The Cougars took charge right from the start by taking a 16-4 lead with 9:19 left in the first half. Clark led 33-19 at the break.

Clark maintained that 14-point lead with a 42-28 advantage with 14:53 left before the Cougars used a 19-2 run and scored 36 of the next 40 points to earn the conference tournament spot.

Junior Kate Minister added 13 points and six rebounds while freshman Lily Colley had 12 points off the bench for the Cougars. Freshman Megan Grondin had eight points and a game-high eight rebounds.

Clark shot 47.7 percent from the floor (31-65) while making eight of 19 from 3-point range.

Freshman Kaitlin Ward led the Bears with 14 points and a team-high seven rebounds. Coast Guard shot 27.6 percent from the field (16-58) while making just two of 12 from behind the arc.

Clark dominated the glass as they outrebounded the Bears 50-27.

The game marked the final game in the career for Coast Guard senior Allison Majcher who had eight points on Senior Day.