WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. – Sophomore Willie Britton (Queens, N.Y./Monsignor McClancy) netted a career-high 26 points and added six rebounds and four assists as the Manhattanville College men's basketball team defeated Framingham State University by a 69-64 score in the consolation game of the Williams College Invitational on Saturday afternoon at Chandler Gymnasium.
 
Britton led the charge for Manhattanville (2-1), pouring in 26 points on 6-of-9 shooting from the field (3-of-3 from beyond the arc) and an 11-of-16 mark from the free-throw line. He was joined in double figures by freshman Dwayne Frazier (Miami, Fla./The Sagemont School), who also provided a spark off the bench with 12 points on perfect 5-of-5 shooting from the field and five rebounds.
 
The Valiants as a team shot 53.3 percent (24 of 45) from the field on the afternoon and 60.0 percent (6 of 10) from beyond the arc in the win.
 
After a tough loss yesterday, Manhattanville came out very strong yet again on Saturday, scoring 15 of the game's first 19 points to snatch a 15-4 lead just 6:42 into the contest. Junior Victor Troya (Miami, Fla./Miami Springs Senior) had five points to lead the team during the run, which started with back-to-back buckets from senior Charles Nardone (Stony Point, N.Y./North Rockland) and ended with a Britton three-pointer.
 
The Valiant lead grew to as many as 18 points on two occasions in the first half, coming first on a Britton freebie with 5:30 left and then again after a Frazier layup with 2:32 on the clock. Manhattanville went into the half with a 37-21 lead thanks to 14 first-half points from Britton as well as an 18-4 edge in points in the paint.
 
Manhattanville continued to build its lead to start the second half, as a three from Britton put the Valiants up 50-25 with 15:54 to go in the game. The Valiants still held a comfortable 58-34 advantage at the midway point of the half after a pair of Frazier free throws, but soon after Framingham went on a 15-0 run over a 4:32 span to get right back into the game, down 60-51 with 4:48 remaining.
 
The Rams managed to decrease the deficit to just four points after a Timothy Mangano three made it a 65-61 game with 38 seconds remaining. However, Britton sunk four free throws down the stretch to secure the victory for the Valiants.
 
Manhattanville only managed 17 shots in the second half thanks in part to 11 turnovers, but the team hit 10 of those 17 attempts to squeak out the win.
 
The Valiants will play their first game of the season at Kennedy Gym on Tuesday night, as the squad hosts Mount Saint Mary College at 7 p.m.