BROOKLYN, N.Y. — The Pratt Institute men's basketball team started the new year with an offensive showcase, cruising past Elms College, 90-60, on Saturday afternoon at the Activity Resource Center.
Pratt (8-3) shot a blistering 49 percent from the floor, dished out 23 assists, and scored 58 points in the paint to overwhelm the Blazers. The victory was the Cannoneers' sixth in their last seven contests, continuing the program's best start in over a decade.
Four players scored in double figures, led by junior forward Trey Phillips (Phoenix, Ariz.), who posted a double-double with 19 points and 12 rebounds. Phillips was 9-of-15 from the field and added two blocks and two steals. Senior forward Cameron Hatcher (Cincinnati, Ohio) tallied 15 points and eight rebounds, connecting on three 3-pointers.
Senior guard Mekhi Davis (Brooklyn, N.Y.) chipped in 14 points, six rebounds, and three assists, while sophomore guard Thomas Graetz (Sydney, Australia) added 12 points. First-year guard Elijah Fermaint (Orlando, Fla.) was the primary facilitator, handing out a game-high eight assists to go with his two points and two rebounds.
The Cannoneers used a balanced first-half attack to build a 39-29 lead at the break, with nine different players finding the scoring column. After Elms (6-6) briefly led early, Pratt took control with a 15-3 run midway through the half, capped by a 3-pointer from Hatcher that made it 24-15 with 5:06 to play.
Pratt broke the game open in the second half, using a 13-0 run early in the period to turn a 10-point lead into a comfortable 52-29 advantage. The Cannoneers' transition game was on full display, as they outscored Elms 25-10 in fast-break points for the game. The lead swelled to as many as 32 points on a fast-break dunk by Kurt Thomas (Dallas, Texas) with 3:29 remaining.
The bench provided a significant lift, contributing 28 points to the effort and 11 different Cannoneers scoring a field goal. Sebastian Roda (Greenwich, Conn.) scored nine points on 3-of-4 shooting from deep, and Thomas finished with eight points and three assists.
DJ Watkins led Elms with 14 points, while Edgardo Jacob Cancel and Rayquan Anderson added six points each.
The Cannoneers will look to continue their momentum as they open Atlantic East Conference play on Wednesday, Jan. 7, hosting Gwynedd Mercy University in a 5 p.m. scheduled tip-off in the second game of a doubleheader.
