Hot Shooting Carries MBB Over SVC

NEW LONDON, Conn. – Five Mariners scored in double figures as the Mitchell College men's basketball team cruised to a 95-73 victory over Southern Vermont College on Thursday afternoon in New England Collegiate Conference action at the Yarnall Athletic Center.

Mitchell (5-5 overall, 3-1 NECC) shot 51 percent from the floor and committed only four turnovers, both season bests. Sophomore Joshua Ford finished with 16 points and added 14 rebounds for his fourth double-double of the season. Taeshon Johnson led all scorers with 23 points and also notched a double-double with 14 boards for the Mountaineers (1-11 overall, 1-3 NECC).

Ford got the Mariners off to a good start with baskets on back-to-back trips down the floor to open the game. Mitchell proceeded to build the lead to double digits, taking a 19-8 advantage on a three-pointer by junior Zachary Hoch with 12:37 to play in the first half.

The Mariners broke the game open later in the stanza behind an 11-0 run that yielded a 46-26 lead with 2:30 to play. Seniors Paul Jefferson and Terrance Fisher combined for all 11 points during the stretch, which featured a pair of three-pointers from the former and a trey and a lay-up from the latter.

Mitchell led 53-31 at intermission thanks to taking care of the ball (one turnover) and a strong effort from its bench. The Mariners' reserves scored 28 points in the first half led by 12 points from freshman Michael Pellegrini and 11 from Fisher. Taeshon Johnson paced the Mountaineers with 13 points in the opening half.

Southern Vermont, which dressed only six players, hung tough in the second half. The Mountaineers got as close as 15 points at 75-60 with 6:48 to play, but the Mariners quickly built the lead back to 20. Hunter Stratton finished with 15 points and eight rebounds while Cory Christensen and Travis Severs each chipped in with 13 points.

Several Mitchell players had their best games of the season. Pellegrini netted a season-high 19 points on 8-for-11 shooting while Fisher added a season-high 14 points and went 4-for-5 from long range. Jefferson also connected on four treys and finished with 12 points while senior Alex Vess contributed 10 points. Classmate Enoch Contreras also had a solid game at the point, handing out a career-high nine assists while turning the ball over only once.

Mitchell will next play at Wheelock College on Saturday, January 14 at 1 p.m.