BY COLBY HOYLE // FEB. 7, 2013 //

With a win Wednesday night over Western New England College, the Curry men’s basketball team clinched the top seed in the upcoming conference playoffs. The Colonels improved to 13-2 in The Commonwealth Coast Conference following their 71-60 victory in Milton.

Sedale Jones, a senior criminal justice major, and Lambros Papalambros, a junior management major, have led the team offensively most of the year, but the two struggled early in this game, shooting a combined 1-for-9 in the first half. In addition, Curry was without senior forward Ted Amendola and junior guard Carlos Rebeiro.

Antonio Jones scored 17 points and helped carry the offensive load in the first half. // Photo courtesy of Curry Athletics

Sophomore Antonio Jones (17 points) and junior A.J. Stevens (16 points, 14 rebounds) carried the load early on Wednesday. Antonio Jones was the go-to man offensively in the first half until Sedale Jones scored all 19 of his points in the second half; 11 were from the free throw line. With the win, Curry improved to 16-6 overall, while Western New England fell to 7-15 (5-10 TCCC). Damon Alston led the Golden Bears with a game-high 22 points.

Both teams were sloppy in the first half, turning the ball over and missing numerous field goal attempts from within 10 feet. Curry led by 5 points most of the night, but began to pull away with 10 minutes remaining, leading by as many as 19. Western New England could do little defensively in the paint, repeatedly fouling the Colonels. However, Curry finished just 24-for-40 from the free throw line. Western New England also shot poorly from the line, finishing 8-for-15.

The game was also won on the defensive end of the floor for the Colonels. Senior forward Ryan Rawnsley said the real difference was effort “and the trust we have with one another on the floor.”