MBB Can't Rally Back at Daniel Webster

NASHUA, NH – The Mitchell College men's basketball team fell 94-81 in a NECC clash at Daniel Webster College on Saturday afternoon at Mario Vagge Gymnasium.

DWC's John Hickson nailed seven three-pointers on the way to a game-high 28 points, and Daris Cosby added 25 points for the host Eagles. Dave Schindewolf knocked down 17 points and a team-high eight boards while Khial Watson chipped in with 10 as the Eagles (7-13, 6-6 NECC) moved into fourth place in the conference standings.

Senior Enoch Contreras led five players in double figures for the Mariners (5-14, 3-10 NECC) with 20 points. Senior Terrance Fisher notched 17 points, classmate Paul Jefferson had 14 and freshman Alex Pires added 11. Sophomore Joshua Ford recorded a double-double with a game-high 12 rebounds and 11 points and also dished off four assists.

DWC shot 52 percent on the day and was carried by 59-percent shooting in the second half. However, the Eagles had to withstand a solid run from the Mariners in the second half that whittled what had been a 20-point lead down to four, before pulling away down the stretch.

The Eagles came out firing while Mitchell was cold from the field and at the free throw line, allowing DWC to open a 27-7 lead nine minutes into the game after a David Feinstein lay-up. DWC then led by 17 (41-24) before Mitchell cut it to 13 on an Alex Vess jumper for a 43-30 game at the break.

The Eagles held a 50-35 advantage after a Cosby lay-up with 3:41 gone in the second before Mitchell began to steadily chip away. A three-point play inside from Ford cut the lead to 10 (50-40) with 15:47 left, and after the teams traded baskets, DWC was called for a technical foul. The free throws and a Fisher jumper then cut the deficit to five (52-47) with 14 minutes left.

A Cosby trey later pushed the lead back to eight (63-58), but a three-point play from Contreras and another Fisher lay-up pulled Mitchell to within four (64-60) with 8:51 left.

But DWC allowed Mitchell no closer thanks to Hickson's shooting. The sophomore drained three from downtown over the span of two-and-a-half minutes including a dagger with 5:27 to go for a 10-point game (76-66). The Eagles went 6-for-6 at the line over the next three minutes, and a Watson dunk with 2:07 left for an 84-67 game sealed it.

DWC finished with the advantage inside, winning the glass (42-34) and scoring in the paint (34-28), helping negate 21 turnovers leading to 24 Mariner points. The Mariners were also hurt by a tough day at the free throw line line, managing just 47 percent (18-for-38) while DWC went 25-for-31 at the stripe.

Mitchell will take a break from NECC play when it visits Connecticut College on Tuesday, February 7 at 7:00 p.m.