MBB Picks Up First NECC Win Against Daniel Webster

NEW LONDON, Conn. - The Mitchell College men's basketball team picked up its first NECC win of the season on Saturday afternoon with a 75-65 victory over Daniel Webster College at the Yarnall Athletic Center.

Seniors Eric Murray and Mike DePaolo led the way for the Mariners (2-9 overall, 1-3 NECC) offensively. Murray netted a game-high 24 points and grabbed eight rebounds while DePaolo finished with 22 points. Chris Hanson scored 19 points to lead the Eagles (4-7 overall, 0-2 NECC) while Chris Voukides added 11.

The Mariners got out of the gates quickly and led 12-4 after the first five minutes. After the Eagles cut the deficit to 12-9 following free throws from Adam Landry and a three-pointer by Keith Speed, Mitchell responded with a 12-4 run to push the lead to double digits at 24-13 with under nine minutes to play in the stanza. DePaolo, who made three treys on the day, hit two during the stretch to fuel the attack.

The Eagles hung tough for the rest of the half, cutting the deficit to seven on multiple occasions, including on a pair of Hanson free throws with under a minute to play. The Mariners, however, took the momentum into the locker room as DePaolo buried a three before the halftime buzzer.

Mitchell forced 11 turnovers in the first half and committed only five. Both squads shot 44 percent in the stanza, but the Mariners held a 44-34 lead thanks to a 15-5 edge in points off turnovers. DePaolo led all scorers at the break with 15 points.

The Mariners never trailed in the second half but had to hold off several strong charges from the Eagles. Daniel Webster pulled to within three at 58-55 on a three-pointer by John Hickson with 10:20 to go in the contest. Mitchell responded with eight straight points-four from Murray and four from junior Drew Norris-to pump the lead back to double digits.

The Eagles again cut the deficit to three at 68-65 with 3:00 remaining on a trey by Hanson. Daniel Webster then got a stop on the defensive end and had a chance to tie, but Hanson's attempt was off the mark and the Mariners corralled the rebound. The Eagles missed on their final eight field goal attempts of the game while Mitchell sealed the win by going 6-of-6 from the charity stripe.

The Mariners shot 40 percent from the floor and forced 18 turnovers. Sophomore Alex Vess finished with 10 points and three rebounds while Norris had a strong second half and added six points and six rebounds.

Daniel Webster shot 34 percent for the game and made just 8-of-33 from long range. Landry finished with eight points and four boards while Eric Suarez chipped in with seven points and a game-high 10 rebounds.

Mitchell will next play at Connecticut College on Monday, January 18 at 7 p.m.