MBB Cruises Past Becker, Wins Seventh Straight

NEW LONDON, Conn. – A balanced offensive attack led the Mitchell College men's basketball team to its seventh straight win on Tuesday afternoon, an 84-62 victory over Becker College in New England Collegiate Conference action at the Yarnall Athletic Center.

Junior Parris Hill and senior Joshua Ford each posted double-doubles to lead the Mariners (9-3 overall, 6-0 NECC). Hill finished with game highs of 16 points, 15 rebounds and five blocks while Ford added 15 points and 11 boards in 20 minutes. Sophomore Frank Martin and senior Anthony Epps also scored in double figures with 14 and 13 points, respectively. Donovin Ford-Hayes paced the Hawks (6-7 overall, 3-2 NECC) with 10 points.

Mitchell never trailed in the contest after Ford buried a three on the opening possession. The Mariners scored the first seven points of the contest and ran the lead to double digits at 12-2 on a three-pointer by senior Alex Del Rio just 3:22 into the contest.

Trailing by 11, Becker righted the ship with 10 straight points to fight its way back into the game. Ford-Hayes sparked the run with a three-pointer and later added a jumper, and a three-point play by Scott Dulaire made it 15-14 with 13:49 to go in the half.

The Mariners responded with a run of their own, reeling off 11 straight points over a near four-minute stretch to take control once again. Ford and Hill each scored a pair of buckets during the span as Mitchell pumped the lead back to 12.

Mitchell led 39-25 at the break after shooting 50 percent in the first half. Ford and Epps each had nine points in the opening stanza while Del Rio chipped in with eight. Tyler Roberson led the Hawks with six points.

Mitchell slammed the door early in the second half behind a 20-2 run that resulted in a 68-37 lead, its biggest of the contest. Hill contributed eight points during the stretch while junior Hector Aleman knocked down a pair of three-pointers. Becker shot just 1-for-10 during the span, the only basket coming on a lay-up from Ford-Hayes.

The Hawks cut the deficit down 10 points over the final 10 minutes, but it wasn't nearly enough. Mitchell shot 45 percent for the game and held a 50-38 edge on the glass. Del Rio and Aleman each finished with eight points.

Becker shot 31 percent from the floor and forced 19 turnovers. Dulaire finished with eight points, four rebounds and two blocks while Rashaun Liggon grabbed seven boards and Roberson added six.

Mitchell will next host Elms College on Thursday, January 16 at 5 p.m. Becker returns to action at home against Lesley University on Thursday at 7 p.m.