WORCESTER – Sophomore Jamani Spencer (Closter, NJ) and junior Dave Zielinski (Shelton, CT) each had an near perfect half as WPI defeated MCLA 105-68 Tuesday night in a non-conference basketball contest in Harrington Auditorium.
It is the 43rd time the Engineers have scored 100 points or more in a contest. The most recent was a 100-84 triumph in the 2013 season opener at RPI. The last triple digit game in Harrington was a 100-80 victory over Fitchburg State on December 10, 2011. Oddly enough, the Crimson and Gray dropped 105 on Salem State earlier that season.
Spencer dominated the first, shooting 8 of 9 from the field, including 2 for 2 beyond the arc, and 2 for 2 at the free throw line, for a total of 20 points to go with a trio of assists. The second half saw Zielinski, who added a pair of boards, go 5 for 6 with an eye-popping 4 for 5 from downtown for 14 points. Junior Connor Willgress (Mill Creek, WA), who saw action in both frames, totaled 10 points on 4 of 5 from the field and 2 of 3 triples.
Freshman Jake Wisniewski (West Brookfield, MA), senior Sean Doncaster (Medford, MA) and junior Aaron Todd (York, ME) chipped in with eight to go with seven from junior Chris Rodgers (Franklin, MA), senior Ian Converse (Woodstock, CT), freshman Andreas Bitsos (Athens, Greece) and sophomore James Loring (Norton, MA). Sophomore Ryan Foley (Monroe, CT) added four points as freshman Nick Smith (Hanson, MA) chipped in with a three. Junior Shane Farley's (Burlington, MA) layup pushed the Engineers into triple digits.
Wisniewski paced the Engineers on the glass with 10 rebounds followed by Bitsos (four steals) with six. Rodgers and Loring each corralled five as freshman Lou Doherty (Arlington, MA) contributed two defensive board to go with a pair of helpers. Doncaster doled out seven assists. Bitsos established career bests in points, rebounds and steals. Spencer tied his career point output while Zielinski, Foley and Smith reset theirs. Wisniewski set a new career high with 10 rebounds.
Junior Keiland Cross (Pittsfield, MA) scored 19 while classmate Joe Wiggins (Pittsfield, MA) posted a double-double of 17 points and 10 rebounds. Sophomore Collin Parrott (Dalton, MA) added 10 points and junior Joe Murray (Cairo, NY) pulled down 10 caroms. Junior Nolan Bird (Clarksburg, MA) added seven point as sophomore Tyler McKay (Clifton Park, NY) and freshman Dahandray Sistrunk (Adams, MA) combined for nine off the bench.
The Engineers led from wire-to-wire. In the first half, Spencer began a personal 11-4 run with a jumper to make it 6-0 and capped it with a triple at for the 15-4 advantage 4:41 into the contest. Joe Wiggins, meanwhile, put the Trailblazers on the board with a layup at 17:25. WPI went on to enjoy a 26-point lead with 2:27 left in the half. Zielinski checked into the game 2:17 into the second and proceeded to drop four of his threes in the next five Engineer possessions.
WPI owned most of the team statistics with the exception of second chance points as MCLA scored 24 and allowed 19.
The Engineers (6-2) head to Salem State Saturday for a 1pm contest and the Trailblazers (0-7) host RPI Friday at 6pm as part of the Tri-State Tournament.