RALEGH, NC – Despite setting a single-game record for made three-pointers, the WPU men's basketball team had their worst shooting performance of the season overall and struggled to get stops on the defensive end of the court, as they fell to the Camels of Connecticut College this afternoon.
WPU (4-6) only trailed by two (30-28) after Michael Wolf drained a three-pointer at the 8:46 mark of the first half, but Connecticut took control of the game and jumped out to a 15 point, 45-30, lead with five minutes remaining . The Camels were up at the break, 53-42, and went on to win, 88-69.
"Hats off to [Connecticut]…They came out ready to play, and they executed their stuff well, but it's tough to win games when you shoot 30% and give up 88 points," said head coach Claude Shields. "We have to be able to execute our stuff better, and we tried switching things up, but we just aren't very good defensively and that starts with our conditioning."
Connecticut has shot 41% from the field and 34% from beyond the arc this season. This afternoon the Camels went 30-58 (51.7%), including a 13-28 (48%) outing from the bonusphere. Comparatively, the Pacers went 24-78 (30.8%) and 16-53 (30.2%) from three-point land.
Nate Strother led the way for William Peace with a game high 20 points, seven rebounds, and three assists. Shawn Shaffer came up one rebound short of a double-double with 10 points and nine boards. Wolf finished with eight points and a game high six assists. Bryson Gibson also scored eight points in addition to five rebounds and three assists.
All five Camel starters finished in double-figures led by Lee Messier's 17 points. Zuri Pavlin was also a force as he registered a double-double of 14 points and 14 rebounds.
The WPU men's basketball team will travel to play Hampden-Sydney this Sunday at 2:00 p.m.
"We have another tough test Sunday before conference play starts," Shields added. "We have a lot to work on before then"
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