WEST HARTFORD, Conn. - The Western Connecticut State University Wolves returned to action in men's basketball with an 80-64 setback against the Connecticut College Camels in the opening round of the USJ Holiday Invitational at the Calhoun Gymnasium on the campus of the University of Saint Joseph this afternoon.  WestConn, playing for the first time in 22 days, fall to 6-5 and will face the host Blue Jays in the consolation round tomorrow at 1 p.m.  The Camels play Farmingdale State, which downed St. Joseph, 73-66, in the other first round game today.  Senior Cameron Gallon (York, Pa.) paced the Wolves with 18 points and eight rebounds.

Connecticut College built a 16-8 lead over the game's first nine minutes but Gallon scored five in a row and classmate Melo Williams (Brooklyn, N.Y.) added a layup to make the score, 16-15, 90 seconds later.  Senior guard Keeshawn Jones (MIddletown, N.Y.) gave WestConn a 21-20 lead on a layup with 7:20 left in the first half before an 8-0 Camel run.  Alden Doran gave Connecticut College a double-digit lead at 35-25 with a three-pointer at the three-minute mark and the Camels led, 39-25 at halftime.

Connecticut College shot 50 percent from long range and the Wolves made just 25 percent of their overall field goals in the second half, as the Camels maintained at least a 12-point edge after the break.  A Williams drive made the score, 57-45, with 11:45 remaining, but Connecticut College built its advantage back up to 20 (68-48) at the nine-minute mark.  WestConn senior forward Jourdan Belcher (Elmsford, N.Y.) joined Gallon in double figures in scoring with 15 points and added five rebounds, while junior Nick Boyce (Jamiaca, N.Y.) scored nine points for the Wolves.  Elias Espinosa paced the Camels with a game-high 21 points and Dylan Watson added 18 points and eight boards.