MIDDLETOWN, Conn. – A balanced attack saw every member of the top-seeded Wesleyan men's basketball team score at least 13 points as the Cardinals pulled away late to topple the eight-seed Connecticut College in an 87-78 win in the Quarterfinal round of the NESCAC Tournament. Wesleyan (20-5) advances to the Semifinal round while the Cardinals will play host to the NESCAC Championship weekend from Feb. 28-March 1 next weekend.
 
Facing a Camels team that beat the Cardinals 84-83 in New London in the regular season – the only league game Wesleyan lost this season – revenge was on the mind of the hosts as Saturday's rematch played to a feverish pace. With both sides mixing in extended defenses, switching between man-to-man and zone, the three-point line was a weapon utilized early and often by both teams.
 
A basket was scored on six of the first seven total possessions between the two sides to start play while Ben Lyttle '27 scored eight straight points for the Cardinals including back-to-back corner three-pointers. Fritz Hauser '26 cashed in on a three from the wing and Oscar Edelman '28 got switched onto a guard and took advantage underneath with a basket to hand Wesleyan a 13-6 lead just four minutes into play.
 
The Camels swiftly answered back, making four straight attempts and five out of six total from long range in a span of less than three minutes, to take a 23-19 lead. Jaalan Watson '29 stymied Conn's run with a deep three-pointer while six unanswered Wesleyan points restored a seven-point advantage for the hosts with 5:30 to play before halftime.
 
The Cardinals' lead hovered around the seven-point margin up until the final minute when Conn scored six unanswered points, including a last second step back three from Elias Espinosa to make it 43-42 Wesleyan at the break.
 
Despite shooting 62 percent from the floor (16-for-26) in the first half, the Cardinals were locked in a one-point game as turnovers played a key role, with the Camels sitting with a +7 turnover margin (9-2) through the opening 20 minutes.
 
The second half started much like the first half, with Greg Cantwell hitting from deep on the first possession, but the Cardinals hit right back with a crucial 11-0 run featuring five points from Lyttle while Hauser and Edelman both hit shots from long range to give Wesleyan a 54-45 advantage.
 
The game seesawed back and forth, with Conn lowering the deficit to four while Wesleyan opened up their first double-digit lead of the game with 12:14 remaining on a Watson dunk. With 9:32 remaining and Wesleyan leading 61-56, the Cardinals all but put the game to bed with a 10-0 run that featured a pair of three-point makes from Hauser who went 4-for-4 from long range in the contest. Lyttle secured a putback layup underneath and it was 71-56 Wesleyan with 6:31 left.
 
The Camels could only get to within seven points of the lead for the remainder of play as Sam Pohlman '26 had the final dagger with a step back three-point shot with 2:20 left.
 
After seeing Conn hit 8-of-20 three-point shots in the first half, the Cardinals limited the Camels to a 5-for-20 showing from long range in the second half. Wesleyan also committed just four turnovers in the second half.
 
Steady scoring throughout saw Lyttle lead the way with a season-high 19 points (3-3 3FG) to go along with 13 rebounds (five offensive). Hauser had an ultra-efficient night, going 6-for-8 overall and 4-of-4 from three on his way to 16 points and six rebounds. Zach Wolinski '28 netted 16 points while going 7-for-7 from the free throw line. Edelman tallied 15 points (6-11 FG) while Pohlman flirted with a triple-double, going for 13 points, 11 assists, and seven rebounds with just one turnover.
 
The Cardinals are back in action on Saturday at 2 PM with a Semifinal showdown against the five-seed Bates who toppled the four-seed Amherst 70-59 on the road. Wesleyan defeated the Bobcats 83-61 in the regular season in a game that saw Hauser net a career-high 30 points on 8-for-13 shooting from three.