Box Score BABSON PARK, Mass. -- A poor start derailed the hopes of the Amherst College men's basketball team Wednesday as Babson prevailed in a pre-holiday match-up, 66-54. 

Amherst fell to 2-2 overall while the Beavers improved to 4-2 on the season. The Mammoths are back in action Sunday with a game at Yeshiva University. Tip-off is slated for 3 p.m.

GAME HIGHLIGHTS:

* The start of the game put the Mammoths in a 16-point hole 8 minutes into the contest. Amherst was unable to hit a shot as it went 1 for its first 12 attempts from the floor and could not control the glass either to the tune of an 11-4 deficit in that same span. By the time Bobby Sommers hit a three-pointer off the right elbow 4:08 into the game, the Mammoths were down 11-3. 

* It did not get much better as Babson then went on an eight-point run to increase its lead to 19-3 with 11:56 left in the half. The beavers hit on 8 of their first 13 shots (8 of 13, 61.5 percent). The Mammoths did turn the tide somewhat, getting as close as 10 points as Noah Helmke hit a pair of three-pointers and Giovanni Tam scored eight points from the paint, but ultimately, they trailed 35-21 at the half thanks in part to Babson senior Andrew Fitzpatrick, who scored 15 points in the first half alone. 

* The Mammoths trailed by as many as 15 early in the second half, but an 12-1 run allowed them to cut that deficit to just four at 41-37. A pair of Charlie Randall free throws preceded back-to-back three-pointers from Canin Reynolds that made it a 40-33 game with 12:24 left in the contest. A Tam lay-up preceded a C.J. Mitchell steal and lay-up that made it 41-37 with 11:32 to go.

* However, Amherst would go cold from the floor again and Babson quickly pushed its lead back to double-figures with 7:59 left at 50-39. Nate Amado led the charge for the Beavers, scoring 11 of his game-high 20 points in the second half. 

BY THE NUMBERS:

* Amherst shot only 26.9 percent (18 of 67) from the floor for the game, shooting better from beyond the three-point line (6 of 18, 33 percent). The Mammoths were out rebounded by a 51-43 margin. 

* Randall led Amherst with 12 points and 8 rebounds, while Tam netted 10.