Cold Shooting Hurts MBB Against SVC

NEW LONDON, Conn. – The Mitchell College men's basketball team dropped a 75-54 decision to Southern Vermont College on Saturday evening in a match-up of NECC teams at the Yarnall Athletic Center.

Lance Spratling led four Mountaineers in double figures with 17 points on 7-of-11 shooting. Deshawn Hamlet and Ben Naaktgeboren added 14 points apiece while Taeshon Johnson chipped in with 12. Hamlet was also active on the glass and finished with a game-high 13 rebounds.

Mitchell (1-9 overall, 0-2 NECC) shot a season-low 32 percent from the floor and went 1-of-13 from behind the arc. Junior Julio Contreras paced the Mariners with 11 points while freshman Khafre Tuckett added 10 off the bench.

Mitchell opened the game with a cold shooting touch. The Mariners missed their first 11 field goal attempts and trailed 12-1 after seven minutes. Southern Vermont (6-5 overall, 1-1 NECC) took advantage and led by as many as 22 points in the half thanks to a strong effort from its starters, who combined for 33 points in the stanza.

The Mountaineers pulled away at the end of the half, finishing with an 18-6 run over the final 6:01 to lead 41-21 at the break. Southern Vermont shot 50 percent from the floor and held the Mariners to a 27-percent effort.

Mitchell bumped its shooting to 37 percent in the second half but couldn't make up the large deficit. Southern Vermont pumped its lead to as many as 32 points and never let it dip below 17. The Mountaineers finished the contest shooting 45 percent and held a 45-39 edge on the boards.

Mitchell will enjoy an extended layoff before next hosting Becker College on January 8.