Schenectady, N.Y. – The Wesleyan University Cardinals used a balanced attack to collect a 76-49 opening round victory over Clarkson University on Saturday night in the Union College Sig Makoski Classic on the campus of Union College in the Viniar Athletic Center.

Wesleyan (3-1) held a 46-27 lead over Clarkson (1-5) at the break as the Cardinals combined for a blistering 75.0% field goal percentage (21-28) and were paced by the play of junior forward Joseph Kuo as he hit 5-of-6 from the floor and had 10 first half points and a pair of blocks. Wesleyan held a commanding edge on the boards in the first half as they had 19 rebounds, while limiting Clarkson to just seven rebounds and a 33.3% FG percentage (10-30).

Senior forward Joe Edmonds added nine points off the bench in the first half for the Cardinals. Clarkson's junior forward Derek Hart had eight first half points with four rebounds to lead the squad at the intermission.

Kuo finished with 14 points and three blocks, while Edmonds netted 12 points as the Cardinals shot 56.4% from the floor in the match-up (31-55), while holding Clarkson to 32.1% (18-56). Senior forward Rashid Epps was the high scorer with 16 points after posting eight points in each half for Wesleyan with three blocks. Senior guard BJ Davis had 11 points with a team-leading six assists as well.

Wesleyan which had 10 blocked shots in the contest, held a commanding lead on the boards as they finished with 38 boards and held Clarkson to 27 on the night.

Junior guard Conrad Zampier led Clarkson with 12 points and made 3-of-5 attempts from beyond the arc, while the team made 9-of-19 from three-point range after making 5-of-9 in the second half (55.6%). Rookie forward Cormac Bettinger added a team-leading six caroms off the bench with a block and two points.

Action continues on Sunday as Clarkson faces Westfield State at 2 p.m. and Wesleyan faces the host Dutchmen of Union College at 4 p.m.