PURCHASE, N.Y. — A late run helped fuel Williams College to a 73-54 victory over the Manhattanville College men's basketball team on Sunday afternoon in non-conference play at Kennedy Gymnasium.

"We played tough," commented head men's basketball coach Pat Scanlon. "Williams College is a good team and we played them tough. If we coud just have gotten a few baskets to fall in the second half it could've been a different game."

After a sluggish start, the Valiants were able to get their offense going. Trailing by nine, Manhattanville went on a 12-0 run to take its first lead since the opening basket of the game. The two teams would battle back-and-forth accumulating two ties and three different lead changes in the final six minutes of the half. But two Bobby Casey three-pointers gave the Ephs 29-25 lead at half.

"We had to battle back and the guys kept fighting and played tough," stated Scanlon. "Our defense played very well tonight and helped keep us in the game until our offense got going."

After the Ephs put up 12 quick points in the second half to take a 41-34 lead, the Valiants came storming back thanks to an Anthony Maestre (Bronx, N.Y./Mount St. Michael Academy) three-pointer. Then sophomore guard Dom Arena (Bronx, N.Y./Cardinal Spellman) intercepted a pass and turned the turnover into an Andrew Winter (Queens, N.Y./St. Francis Prep) three to cut the deficit to one with nine minutes left in the game.

That was the closest Manhattanville (4-3) would get as Williams then responded with a 32-14 run to end the game.

The visitors won the rebound battle 50-39 including 16 offensive rebounds that resulted in 11 second chance points. Both teams each recorded 16 turnovers but the Ephs were able to convert on those turnovers outscoring the Valiants 16-8 on points off turnovers. 

Williams (4-0) was led by Freshman Kyle Scadlock who led all scorers with 18 points and also grabbed 13 boards for a double-double while junior Daniel Aronowitz recorded a double-double with 17 points and a game-high 17 rebounds.

Leading the Valiants was Maestre who had a team-high 17 points along with five rebounds, three assists and four steals. Sophomore Charles Nardone (Stony Point, N.Y./North Rockland) netted 11 points and sophomore Alex Tuci (New Rochelle, N.Y./New Rochelle) led Manhattanville with 14 boards. Winter added six points and six rebounds while fellow classmate Juan Camacho (Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic/New Horizons) recorded five points and six boards.

"Defensively we played very well tonight," concluded Scanlon. "If we can play like that defensively and play offense like we are capable of. I think we can compete for a conference title."

The Valiants will be back in action Wednesday when Manhattanville opens up conference play at DeSales with tip-off scheduled for 8 p.m.