SPRINGFIELD, Mass. – In one of the most impressive defensive displays in program history, the Wesleyan men's basketball team played inspired basketball for 40 minutes in a 54-35 triumph over the host Pride as the Cardinals captured the Hampton Inn West Springfield / Naismith Classic title. Wesleyan's surge continues as the Cardinals have won three straight and four of the last five to move to 5-5 on the season. Springfield falls to 3-8 with the defeat.
 
The 35 points scored by Springfield represents the second-lowest point total scored by a Wesleyan opponent in a game since 1949, bested only by an 87-25 home win over Pratt Institute last season. In terms of away contests, this marks the lowest point total for a Cardinal opponent since a 34-29 win at Bowdoin back on January 8, 1949.
 
In a game where Wesleyan didn't have much going offensively, the Cardinals needed a stellar outing on the defensive end which they received as the Pride shot just 28.3 percent (13-46 FG) for the game and 20 percent (4-20 3FG) from three. Overall, Springfield attempted just 46 shots in the slow-paced game, a new season-low for the Pride.
 
Neither team had a player reach double figures in scoring as Preston Maccoux '23 and Nicky Johnson '25 tied with a game-high nine points. Maccoux added a career-high rebounds as the senior wing found other ways to impact the game, earning Tournament MVP honors after recording a double-double (16 points, 10 rebounds) on Friday night in a win over Maine-Farmington. Johnson added four steals and three assists as he was named to the All-Tournament Team.
 
Shackylle Dezonie '23 posted seven points and 10 rebounds while Fritz Hauser '26 and Shane Regan '25 each added seven points. A key statistic in this contest came in the rebounding department as the Cardinals owned a +20 edge on the boards (49-29) including a 20-6 margin in offensive rebounds. That helped lead to a 21-2 advantage for the visitors in second chance points.
 
As a sign of things to come, both teams struggled to get anything going offensively in the opening five-plus minutes. Wesleyan's first made field goal came 5:38 into the game while Springfield started the game going 1-for-11 from the floor. As the Pride continued to miss, Wesleyan took advantage as Hauser converted a three-point play and Regan canned two free throws to make it 12-4 Cardinals midway through the first half.
 
Dezonie hit a layup with three minutes remaining before halftime, giving Wesleyan their largest lead of the half at 23-10 before Springfield managed to cut the deficit down to single digits with a 25-15 halftime deficit.
 
Wesleyan's lead hovered around 10 points for the first six-plus minutes of the second half before Regan hit a triple to make it 35-22. Gabe Millstein '23 later hit from behind the arc as the Cardinals suddenly led by 18 with 8:36 remaining. Springfield cut the gap to as few as 13 points but the Pride managed just two points in the final 6:18 of play as the Cardinals finished this one in a convincing manner.
 
Springfield was led by Curtiss Blische who posted seven points and six rebounds. Zeke Blauner added seven points as the duo were two of just three Springfield players who finished the game with more than one made field goal.
 
Wesleyan hopes to ride this wave of momentum in the New Year as the Cardinals welcome Amherst for a Little Three (non-league) title at 7:00 PM from SIlloway Gymnasium on Monday.