WALTHAM, Mass. – In the first meeting between the two schools since 2009, the Brandeis University men's basketball team fell victim to hot shooting by visiting WPI, as the Engineers connected on 54 percent from the field and 63 percent from beyond the arc to take a 79-60 victory in Red Auerbach Arena tonight. With the loss, the Judges fall to 3-2 on the season, while the Engineers improve to 6-1.
Brandeis was paced by graduate student Collin Sawyer (New London, Conn./New London), who finished with 17 points on 5-of-13 shooting overall, 3-of-7 from 3-point range and 4-of-4 from the line. Unfortunately for the Judges, the rest of the team was just 1-of-11 from beyond the arc. Senior Nolan Hagerty (Yarmouth, Maine/Yarmouth) added 12 points on 6-of-10 from the field, along with a team-high six rebounds and three assists, tied for the team lead. Sophomore Aedan Using (Old Lyme, Conn. / Old Lyme) also had three assists, while blocking three shots on the defensive end. He and Sawyer tied for second on the team with four rebounds each.
WPI put four scorers in double digits in their hot shooting night. The Engineers hit 30-of-65 overall (53.6%) and 12-of-19 from 3-point range (63.2%). Their percentages in the second half were even better, hitting 17-of-28 (60.7%) overall and 9-of-13 from deep (69.2%). John Lowther was the hot offensive hand, scoring 20 of his game-high 27 points in the second half, when he was 7-of-10 overall, 4-of-4 from downtown and 2-of-2 from the line. Lowther also had seven rebounds, five steals and three assists.
Kahleb Downing added 11 points, while John Adams had 10 points and game-highs of 10 rebounds and four assists for WPI. Brett Marelli added 10 points off the bench for the Engineers. In addition to their hot shooting, WPI also won the turnover battle, 17-14, converting those miscues into 18 points, compared to just nine for the Judges.
Brandeis returns to action on Friday evening against Babson at 7:30 p.m. in the opening round of the New England Big Four Challenge, after Tufts and Salem State face off at 5:30 p.m. The consolation game is Saturday at 1 p.m. followed by the championship game at 3 p.m.