MIDDLETOWN, Conn. – Playing against a stingy Connecticut College zone defense, the Wesleyan men's basketball team found openings and shot their way to a 69-64 victory on Sunday afternoon from Silloway Gymnasium. The Cardinals (10-5, 3-0 NESCAC) continue to roll, defeating the Camels (12-5, 3-1 NESCAC) to win their eighth straight game while now sitting as the only remaining unbeaten team in NESCAC play.
 
With Conn. College employing a varied zone defense for the entire game, the Cardinals' ball movement and dribble penetration created openings along the three-point line. Wesleyan hit a season-high 12 three-pointers, including a 7-for-11 showing in the first half alone, as half of the Cardinals' total made field goals came from long range.
 
Gabe Ravetz '23 was the main beneficiary as the senior hit his first six attempts from three-point territory on his way to a career-high 23 points including 16 in the first half. Preston Maccoux '23 hit on four of his 10 attempts from three-point land while Nicky Johnson '25 added two made three's as the trio combined for all 12 of the Wesleyan three-point field goals in the contest.
 
The matchup between the two remaining NESCAC unbeatens played out as-advertised with Wesleyan building a 10-3 lead in the early going only to see the Camels answer back with an 11-3 run of their own to take a 14-13 lead. The lead continued to change hands until five minutes remained in the first half when the Cardinals rattled off a crucial 10-0 run that loomed large in the final outcome.
 
Ravetz continued his hot shooting in the run as he hit from the corner on a pair of feeds from Shackylle Dezonie '23 who expertly played the role of distributor from the high point in the middle of the Camels' zone defense all afternoon. After forcing a Conn. College shot clock violation, Johnson hit a runner and Dezonie again found an open man, this time hitting Fritz Hauser '26 with a pass in the low block.
 
That extended scoring run created some much-needed separation that remained throughout the majority of the second half. With Johnson grabbing a steal and score from midcourt at the midway point of the second half, Wesleyan led 52-41. Every time the Camels scored, the Cardinals had an answer as Conn. College only got to within seven points of the lead for all but the final 12 seconds of the game.
 
Dezonie played a crucial role in the outcome as the senior finished with a career-high 10 assists to go along with six points and eight rebounds. Johnson went for 13 points, six assists, five rebounds, and three steals in 37 minutes. Maccoux posted 14 points, five rebounds, and two steals.
 
David Murray led the Camels, scoring 13 of his 15 points in the second half. Murray added eight rebounds, two assists, and three blocks to his totals. Elias Espinosa and Andrew Hartel each scored 10 for Conn. College.
 
A big midweek clash looms for Wesleyan as the Cardinals welcome Yeshiva as the two sides will face one another for the first time on Wednesday at 7:30 PM.