By Adam Sherf '23

NEW LONDON, Conn. – Just a week removed from earning the program's first NESCAC win in nearly five years and its fourth straight victory overall, the Connecticut College men's basketball team was dealt an 84-64 setback by No. 21 Wesleyan on Sunday afternoon at the Charles B. Luce Fieldhouse.
 
Having just received national recognition as a Top 25 team in the country, the Cardinals looked to exemplify the dominance that earned them such an honor, and wasted no time doing so. After winning the opening tip-off, senior center Jordan James set the tone early, throwing down an emphatic dunk which he then followed up with another basket the next trip down the floor. The Cardinals followed James' lead as a series of stops and scores led to an early 12-4 lead. 
 
Staring at an 8-point deficit, the Camels' looked to keep the game in reach. Sophomore guard Billy Whelan (Hamilton, Mass.) buried the first of his three first half three pointers, and classmate Ben Rice (Hanson, Mass.) notched a three of his own, which in tandem with his forceful dunk on the ensuing possession, seemed to give the Camels life.
 
After watching the Camels chip away at their lead, the Cardinals rattled off a 12-0 run before taking a 47-35 lead into the half.
 
Coming out of the locker room, the Cardinals looked to build upon their lead and they picked up right where they left off, opening the second half of play on an 8-0 run that brought their lead north of 20 points.
 
While the Camels found a sliver of hope on consecutive scores from freshman guard Caelin Peters (King of Prussia, Pa.) and freshman forward Andrew Hartel (Cape Elizabeth, Maine), the Cardinals quickly shut the door on the possibility of a Camels comeback as consecutive scores from junior guard Preston Maccoux capped off a Cardinals scoring run that expanded the lead to 80-56. 
 
Juniors Gabe Ravetz, Shackylle Dezonie, and freshman Jared Langs, all joined the aforementioned James and Maccoux in double-digit scoring. Wesleyan (15-1, NESCAC 3-0) also received a notable contribution from freshman guard Nicky Johnson, who added eight points and seven assists.
 
Rice led the way for the Camels with 11 points and 8 rebounds. Hartel joined Rice in double digit scoring, adding 12 points on 5-of-9 shooting, and Peters added nine points and three assists off the bench.
 
The Camels also received noteworthy contributions from Whelan and sophomore David Murray (Jackson Heights, N.Y.), as the former poured in nine points while also contributing three assists and the latter added six points and seven rebounds.
 
Connecticut College (6-5, NESCAC 1-1) will look to return to its winning ways on Wednesday, Jan. 19 when it plays host to Bowdoin College at 1 p.m.