Men's Basketball Upended At Williams

Williamstown, Mass. -- Sean Bryan and Josiah Green combined for 27 points, but Williams built an 18-point halftime advantage, handing Salem State their first loss of the season, 77-62 on the second day of the Purple & Gold Classic at Chandler Gymnasium. The Ephs improve to 3-0 while the Vikings now stand at 4-1 on the year. 

Williams never trailed in the game, jumping out to a 14-2 advantage. Salem State managed just 13 points at the halfway point of the first half, shooting 9-of-32 (28.1%) from the floor in the opening half. A tip-in by Conner Byrne drew Salem State to within 10, but an 8-0 run by the Ephs in the final 2:36 put the home team on top 39-21 at the break. Williams hit over 50% of their shots (15-28) and held a commanding 21-11 edge in rebounds.

Bryan produced 12 of his team-high fifteen points in the second half, but Wiliams pushed the lead to 25 on a basket by Cole Prowitt-Smith at the 15:23 mark. The advantage grew to as many as 30 points, before Williams went to their bench. Eight quick points by Javier Osorio, including two three's helped cut the lead to 12, 74-62 with 2:26 left, but the Ephs held Salem State in check the rest of the way before settling for a 15-point victory. 

Williams finished with a 43-24 advantage in rebounds, leading to 15 second chance points. Green totalled 12 points for Salem State while Byrne had nine points and 10 rebounds in the loss. 

Spencer Spivy led Williams with 17 points and six rebounds. Three other Ephs got into double figures as well. Sophomore Nate Karren scored 14 points on 6-9 shooting from the field, as well as Prowitt-Smith and Brandon Roughley who each scored 11.