MBB Holds Off Late Push From Lesley

NEW LONDON, Conn. – Mitchell College held off a late push from Lesley University to come away with a 73-67 victory on Saturday afternoon in New England Collegiate Conference men's basketball action at the Yarnall Athletic Center.

Mitchell (5-7 overall, 3-2 NECC) picked up its third straight win as Parris Hill led the way with 24 points, nine rebounds, four assists and four blocks. Joshua Ford recorded his second double-double of the season with 22 points and 10 rebounds while Frank Martin netted all 11 of his points in the second half.

Justin Rosa paced Lesley (2-11 overall, 2-3 NECC) with a game- and season-high 25 points and shot 6-for-12 from beyond the arc. Corbin Polec chipped in with 10 points off the bench while Chris Barletta finished with eight points, six rebounds and six assists.

Neither team led by more than five points in a closely contested first half. Lesley pulled ahead at the 7:46 mark on a three-pointer by Polec and stayed in front until a three-point play by Hill put the Mariners back on top by one with 1:12 to go. However, Barletta penetrated the lane on the ensuing possession and scored the final bucket of the half to give the Lynx a 34-33 lead at the break.

Lesley opened the second half with a three from Rosa and a layup by Niklaus Oliver to take their largest lead at 39-33. Mitchell then scored seven of the next eight points to tie the game, though another three by Rosa put the Lynx back in front. 

Trailing by three, the Mariners went on an 11-2 run sparked by the outside shooting of Martin to grab the lead for good. He canned three treys during the stretch as Mitchell opened up a 53-47 lead with 11:15 remaining. 

Lesley didn't go away, however, even after a steal and bucket from Martin gave Mitchell its biggest lead at 59-52 with 6:34 to play. Rosa answered with a three on the other end and Jacob DiDomenico followed with a layup to quickly cut the deficit back to two.

The Lynx pulled within one at 63-62 following a layup by Barletta with 3:00 to go, but it would be as close as they would get. The Mariners got back-to-back baskets from Devonta Mosley and Donavan McClean to go back up by five, and after yet another three from Rosa, Hill found Ford underneath for an easy layup. Mitchell kept it a two-possession game from that point on and sealed the win from the free throw line.

Mitchell shot 15-for-20 from the charity stripe led by a 10-for-11 effort from Hill. The Mariners were whistled for only eight fouls in the contest, and as a result Lesley made only four trips to the line for three points.

Mitchell's starting five accounted for all 73 points in the game. McClean and Mosley contributed eight points apiece while the latter also pulled down nine rebounds.

Mitchell will next play at Regis College on Tuesday, January 20 at 7 p.m. Lesley returns to action at home against Daniel Webster College on Tuesday at 8 p.m.