Senior guard Russell Lee dropped 16 points on the strength of four trifectas on Tuesday night.

Sixth-Ranked Jeffs Remain Undefeated with 96-60 Win at Worcester State

December 7, 2004

WORCESTER, MA - The sixth-ranked Amherst College men’s basketball team secured its sixth victory of the season with a 96-60 win at non-conference foe Worcester State College on Tuesday night. Amherst junior guard John Bedford (Ridgewood, NJ) paced the Jeffs with a game-high 18 points and eight boards.

The host Lancers kept it close through most of the opening frame, as Worcester St. senior guard Ryan Connor (Worcester, MA) nailed a three to pull within four, 31-27, four minutes before halftime. However, a jumper by Amherst sophomore Dan O’Shea (Lawrence, MA) sparked a 10-1 run and the Jeffs took a 41-28 lead into the half.

Junior forward John Casnocha (San Francisco, CA) led the Jeffs out of the break with a nine-point outburst over the first five minutes, and Bedford, senior co-captain Andrew Schiel (Wayne, PA) and classmate Russell Lee (Lorton, VA) all drained a three-pointer in the ensuing five minutes to stretch Amherst’s lead to 71-40. The Jeff reserves coasted down the stretch as 13 of 15 Amherst players registered a bucket.

Lee hit four trifectas and Casnocha shot a scorching 75% (six-for-eight) from the floor en route to 16 points apiece. Schiel chipped in 11 points and O’Shea added 10, while Casnocha grabbed a game-high nine boards as the Jeffs outrebounded Worcester St. 51-30. Connor was the only Lancer in double figures with 11 points as Worcester St. fell to 2-3 with the loss. Amherst returns to action Saturday at 2 p.m. against visiting non-conference opponent Colby-Sawyer College.

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