United States Coast Guard Academy - Department of Athletics - Men's Basketball

NEW LONDON, CONN.--(2/2/08)--Junior Jerome Kirkland led all scorers with 16 points while senior Jim Marois added 15 points leading WPI to a 66-57 win over Coast Guard in a New England Women’s and Men’s Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) game.

Coast Guard scored the first five points of the game and led 11-8 with 14:52 left in the first half before WPI used a 9-2 run including a pair of 3-pointers by junior NT Izuchi taking a 17-13 lead with 11:06 left.

The Bears answered with six straight including back-to-back baskets by freshman Jevon James to take its last lead of the game 19-17 with 9:05 left.

Kirkland hit back-to-back 3-pointers to start a 10-0 as the Engineers led 27-19 with 6:51 left in the half. WPI led 37-28 at halftime.

Coast Guard would only get as close as five at 45-40 with 11:43 left in the game as WPI maintained its lead and won its third straight.

Junior Craig Johnson led the Bears with 13 points and a game-high eight rebounds while senior Al Sowers added 10 points in the loss.

The Engineers shot 46.2 percent from the floor (24-52) and improved to 15-5 overall and 6-1 in conference play. Coast Guard shot 40.8 percent from the field (20-49) and dropped to 11-6 overall and 2-5 in NEWMAC play.