Three-Pointers Key in MBB's Win at Daniel Webster

NASHAU, N.H. -- Mitchell College came away with an 80-72 victory over Daniel Webster College on Tuesday night in a New England Collegiate Conference men's basketball showdown at Mario Vagge Gymnasium.

Donavan McClean continued with the hot hand and led all scorers with 24 points on 10-for-18 shooting. Three other Mitchell starters also finished in double figures, with Parris Hill contributing 19 points and seven rebounds. Frank Martin chipped in with a season-high 12 points while Joshua Ford had 11 points and nine rebounds.

Shawn Fenton paced four Daniel Webster players in double figures with 19 points. Ray Farmer played all 40 minutes and recorded a double-double of 16 points and 10 rebounds.

Mitchell led for all but the opening 1:26 of the contest. After Farmer scored the game's first points on a steal and layup, the Mariners went ahead for good thanks to a three-pointer from McClean. Martin then followed with back-to-back treys on the following two possessions as Mitchell built a quick lead from beyond the arc.

The trend continued deep into the half as Mitchell's first seven field goals were from long range. McClean's layup with 7:26 remaining in the half was the first two-point field goal of the night for the Mariners, and it would be their only one of the half.

Although Daniel Webster scored the next five points to tie the game at 27-27, Mitchell never fell behind and ultimately took a 38-34 lead into the locker room at the break. The Mariners shot 9-for-15 from three-point range in the first half and went 9-for-10 from the free throw line.

The story was markedly different in the second half, as the Mariners attempted only one three-pointer but shot 60 percent from the floor. Mitchell used a 9-0 run to start the stanza and built the lead to 47-34.

Trailing by 12 with 4:00 to play, Daniel Webster cut into the deficit quickly with nine straight points over a 1:21 stretch. Farmer was the catalyst with six points while Ryan Gauthier also connected on a three as the Eagles cut the deficit to 71-68 with 2:39 remaining.

Daniel Webster had a chance to tie the game with under 2:00 to play, but Gauthier came up empty on a three-point attempt. Hill then scored in the paint on the other end to pad the Mitchell lead, and Martin closed out the game by going 6-for-6 from the line in the final 41 seconds.

Mitchell's nine three-point field goals were the most in a game this season. The Mariners shot 56 percent from long range in the contest, also a season high. McClean finished with three treys in the game while Hill and Martin added two apiece.

Mitchell will next play at Wheelock College on Thursday, January 15 at 8 p.m.