WALTHAM, Mass. – In a contest that featured six ties and 16 lead changes, the visiting Clark University Cougars scored the game's final six points to spoil a career-high 30-point performance by Brandeis sophomore Alex Zakheim (Bergenfield, N.J./Perkiomen, Pa.) as the Cougars took a 74-68 decision in Red Auerbach Arena tonight.

TEAM RECORDS

• Brandeis, 2-4.
• Clark, 5-1.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• The largest lead for either team in this one was eight points by the Judges, midway through the first half when senior Elias Rodl (Berlin, Germany/Schulund Leistungssportzentrum Berlin) completed a three-point play to give the Judges a 21-13 advantage.
• Clark would rallied to tie the game at 29 on an Elijah Small lay-up with 2:24 to go before the break.
• The sides traded 3-pointers on the last three possessions, with the Cougars' Aliaun Iscandari connecting with nine seconds left to give the visitors a 37-35 lead at the break.
• Zakheim had 14 in the first half to lead all players, while Rodl and first-year Ghur Dillon (Frisco, Texas/Brewster Acad., N.H.) each had eight for the Judges. Boluwasefe John and Reid Neuman each had eight for Clark.
• Zakheim opened the scoring in the second half with a steal and a lay-up to tie things at 37, but Neumann hit back-to-back 3-pointers to help the Cougars establish their largest lead at six points with just over two minutes elapsed in the second half.
• Brandeis answered with seven in a row, the last five from Zakheim, to reclaim a 44-43 lead with 15:18 on the clock.
• Zakheim later had seven points in a 9-0 run that saw the Judges reestablish their eight-point lead at 57-49 with 10:20 left.
• Clark used pressure defense to get back in the contest, going back ahead 64-63 on a Neumann jumper at the 4:26 mark.
• A corner 3-pointer by Dhillon gave Brandeis its last lead at 68-66 with 2:36 left, but that was also the Judges' last bucket of the game.
• Iscandari tied things up with a driving lay-up with 2:15 left, and Boluwasefe put the Cougars ahead for good with a lay-up on a feed by Neumann.
• Brandeis missed its only free throw of the game, the front end of a one-and-one, on the next possession, and Iscandari answered with a hoop to make it a two-possession game with one minute left on the clock.
• Brandeis missed a 3-pointer and Iscandari hit two from the line to seal the contest.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

• Zakheim had a terrific offensive showing, scoring a career-high 30 points – 14 in the first half and 16 in the second. He hit 11-of-13 from the field, 3-of-3 from 3-point range and 5-of-6 from the line. He also had three steals on the defensive end.
• Rodl finished with 18 points on 8-of-20 overall, 1-of-7 from deep and 1-of-1 from the line. He led the Judges with nine rebounds and tied for the team lead with three assists.
• Dhillon finished with 11 points, one shy of his career best.
• Clark had three players score in double figures, with Iscandari finishing with 22 points, John 18 points and Neumann with 16.
• Quentin Pridgen had a game-high 10 rebounds, while Neumann led all players with four assists.
• Both teams shot the ball well, with Clark hitting 58% from the field (28-48) and Brandeis connecting on 52% (26-50).
• Clark had a slight advantage on the boards, 26-23, and and forced 17 turnovers while committing 15.

UP NEXT

• Brandeis will return from Thanksgiving on Sunday, November 30^th with a 2 p.m. game against UMass Boston.