NORTON, MA- The Wheaton College men's tennis team fell for just the second time in nine matches, dropping a 7-2 decision against New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) heavyweight Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) on Wednesday in Beard Field House.

The Lyons are now 7-5 overall and 2-1 in the league, while the Engineers, who have won every tournament crown in the conference's 10-year history and are ranked 12th in the region by the Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA), improved to 9-1 and 2-0.

Wheaton fell just short of taking a 2-1 advantage into singles play. Junior James Little (Mount Desert, ME/Mount Desert Island) and freshman Neall Oliver (Portland, ME/Deering) notched a 9-8 victory in the top doubles position, but senior Nii Manfoi Davies (Town & Country, MO/The Principia) and junior Kyle Hudgins (Uxbridge, MA/Uxbridge) fell by the narrowest of margins, 9-8 in the second slot.

During singles action, Hudgins picked up a 6-2, 6-4 triumph in the third position for Wheaton's lone victory. Five teammates fell in straight sets, with Little and sophomore Brian Krantz (Milford, CT/Joseph A. Foran) each taking four games during their opening set.

Wheaton returns to the court on Friday against Union College, as the Lyons cap a six-match homestand at 4:00 p.m.