Elms Takes Down MBB

NEW LONDON, Conn. - The Mitchell College men's basketball team dropped a 98-84 decision to Elms College on Thursday night at the Yarnall Athletic Center.

Elms (10-5 overall, 4-1 NECC) had four players score in double figures, led by 15 points each from Robert Hargrove and Antoine Holder. Senior Mike DePaolo led Mitchell (2-11 overall, 1-4 NECC) with 18 points and shot 4-of-5 from long range.

Mitchell jumped out to an early six-point lead that was quickly erased by eight straight points from Elms. The Blazers took their first lead at 16-14 on a layup by Holder with 13:32 to play in the first half. DePaolo answered with a bucket on the other end to tie the game, but Elms went ahead for good on another layup by Holder.

The Blazers pumped the lead to nine at 31-22 on a three-pointer by Hargrove with 7:40 to go, but the Mariners chipped away with a 7-1 run over the next 1:25 to cut the deficit to three. Elms, however, responded with an 18-2 run to take control of the game. Seven different Blazers scored during the stretch, which was capped by a layup from Juan Alverio with 2:09 remaining that made it 50-31.

Elms led 52-37 at the intermission after shooting 58 percent in the first half. The Mariners chimed in at 52 percent but were outrebounded 22-15 and gave up 10 offensive rebounds. DePaolo scored 15 points in the stanza to keep Mitchell in the contest.

The Mariners trimmed the lead to 12 early in the second half but would get no closer. Elms took its biggest lead of the game at 87-61 on a basket by Javon Mathis with 9:19 to go.

The Blazers shot 53 percent for the contest and finished with a 46-28 edge in rebounding. Edgar Martinez and Brittain Purcelle each scored in double figures with 12 and 10 points, respectively. Holder added a team-high seven rebounds to go with his 15 points.

Mitchell shot 50 percent from the floor and went 7-of-12 from three-point range. Senior Eric Murray and juniors Drew Norris and Tyler Blier joined DePaolo in double figures. Murray finished with 16 points and added four rebounds and five assists. Norris scored 14 points while Blier chipped in with 11.

Mitchell will next host Wheelock College on Saturday, January 23 at the Yarnall Athletic Center. Tip-off is scheduled for 2 p.m.