THE BASICS:
 
- Score: Clark University 86, MIT 75 (OT)
 
- Records: MIT (7-4, 0-1 NEWMAC); Clark University (12-0, 1-0 NEWMAC)
 
- Location: Cambridge, Mass. (Rockwell Cage)
 
- The Lead: In the NEWMAC opener for both teams, Clark University used a strong overtime period to defeat MIT by an 86-75 final for the first win over the Engineers since the 2016-17 season. MIT had its three-game winning streak snapped with the defeat, while Clark remained perfect on the season at 12-0 overall.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED:
- Over the first 10 minutes, the teams were separated by no more than five points, including an 18-14 MIT led at the 10:05 mark following a pair of free throws by senior Dan Pilsbury (Millington, N.J.). A three-point play by Matthew Waggett sparked a Clark run that put the Cougars in front for the first time at 21-18 on another three-point play from Tyler Davern.
 
- Clark put together what ended up being a 14-2 scoring run over 5:41, capped by a layup from Isaiah Taylor, for a 30-20 double-digit advantage with 4:24 left before halftime. MIT cut the lead down to one moments later at 30-29 following a three from first-year Spencer Lin (Menlo Park, Calif.) before the Cougars took the 34-30 edge into the break.
 
- The second half featured strong runs by both teams, including an 18-5 start to the period for MIT that featured four three-pointers to stretch to a game-high nine-point advantage at 48-39. Clark countered with a run of its own to tie the game and eventually go up 51-49 after a fastbreak layup by Bruce Saintilus.
 
- The Cougars seemingly had the game in control in the final minute with a 70-64 advantage with 52 seconds remaining in regulation. After a layup from senior Julian Manyika (San Francisco, Calif.), junior Alex Cho (San Diego, Calif.) cut to the hoop for a bucket to make it a two-point game with 20 seconds left. Clark's Biko Gayman knocked down one of two free throws for the 71-68 lead, setting the stage for one last MIT possession in regulation. After a strong defensive possession by Clark, the ball eventually found its way into the hands of Cho, who knocked down a three at the buzzer with a defender in his face to force the extra period.
 
- In overtime, Clark took the lead for good from the outset and never looked back as the Cougars shot 57.1 percent from the field over the extra time and converted 7-of-9 free throws, en route to the 11-point victory.
 
INSIDE THE NUMBERS:
 
- Manyika paced MIT with 20 points and nine rebounds in 45 minutes of play, along with a 15-point, 10-rebound, six-assist showing by Cho. First-year Kade Kileen (Austin, Texas) posted 13 points and Pilsbury added 10 points and six rebounds.
 
- Saintilus led all scorers with 27 points, while Taylor tallied 24 points and a game-high nine steals. Gayman finished with 12 points and Davern added a 15-point, 11-rebound double-double with a game-high four blocks.
 
- Overall, MIT had 15 assists on 26 made field goals to go with 12 steals, while Clark finished with 24 steals and outscored the Engineers 30-13 off of turnovers.
 
UP NEXT:
 
- The Engineers are back in action on Saturday, January 8th as the team travels to WPI for a Battle of the Engineers beginning at 2 p.m. Please note that spectators will not be permitted in Harrington Auditorium.
 
STAY CONNECTED:
 
- For the latest on MIT Athletics, follow the Engineers via social media on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and YouTube.