THE BASICS:
 
- Score: Clark University 79, MIT 74
 
- Records: MIT (10-8, 3-5 NEWMAC); Clark University (15-4, 4-4 NEWMAC)
 
- Location: Worcester, Mass. (Kneller Athletic Center)
 
- The Lead: Despite a game-high 31 points from junior Alex Cho (San Diego, Calif.), the MIT men's basketball team fell to Clark University by a 79-74 final on Sunday afternoon. The Engineers trailed by double digits and pulled within two points in the final minute before eventually dropping the five-point final as the Cougars swept the regular-season series.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED:
 
- MIT trailed throughout much of the first half as the Cougars staked to a double-digit advantage for the first time at 20-10 after a three-pointer from Matthew Waggett. A layup by senior Julian Manyika (San Francisco, Calif.) pulled the Engineers within five at 24-19 with 8:47 remaining in the first before Clark held a 44-33 lead at the half.
 
- In the second, Cho's layup at the 12:35 mark got the visitors within 58-53, followed by a three a bit later that got MIT to within 60-56. Senior Dan Pilsbury (Millington, N.J.) scored on a layup midway through the second half and made it a 61-60 game, but Clark answered and had a seven-point edge with just over a minute left. From there, two Cho free throws cut things down to five and after an Isaiah Taylor turnover, Cho drilled a three from the top of the key with a minute left to pull MIT within 76-74.
 
- The Cougars forced an MIT turnover on the ensuing offensive possession though and Clark hit three free throws over the final seconds to seal the five-point victory.
 
INSIDE THE NUMBERS:
 
- Cho finished with 31 points on 12-for-16 shooting, along with 16 points from senior Ian Hinkley (Raleigh, N.C.) and 13 from Pilsbury. Senior Giannis Chatziveroglou (Athens, Greece) led the team with nine rebounds to go along with seven points.
 
- Tyler Davern paced four Cougars in double figures with 23 points, while Waggett and Mikey O'Brien added 11 and Bruce Saintilus finished with 10 points.
 
UP NEXT:
 
- The Engineers are back in action on February 2nd when the team travels to Springfield College for a 7:30 p.m. start.
 
STAY CONNECTED:
 
- For the latest on MIT Athletics, follow the Engineers via social media on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and YouTube.