MBB Stumbles at Regis

WESTON, Mass. – Regis College pulled away late for a 74-63 victory over Mitchell College in a New England Collegiate Conference men's basketball matchup on Tuesday night.

Jeff Tagger Jr. netted a career-high 27 points on 10-of-12 shots to lead Regis. The Pride improved to 9-6 overall and 4-2 in the NECC, while Mitchell dropped to 5-8 and 3-3 in league games.

Joshua Ford posted a double-double of 18 points and 10 rebounds to go with five assists to lead Mitchell. Parris Hill added 15 points, five rebounds, four assists, three blocks, and four steals, and Donavan McClean knocked down a trio of three-pointers en route to 14 points.

In a back-and forth first half, neither team led by more than six in a period that had five lead changes. The Pride jumped out to an early lead, getting out on the fast break for a pair of layups before an Ethan Peana bucket made it a 7-2 game with 16:16 to play. A quick 6-0 spurt from Mitchell capped off by a McClean triple put the Mariners on top less than two minutes later.

The two teams traded baskets and Wyatt Springer connected on a three of his own at the 10:57 mark to extend the Mariners' lead to 15-11. A three-point play from Ford made it a 22-17 advantage for the visitors, but Regis received back-to-back baskets from Sam Jean-Gilles and Tagger Jr. to cut the deficit to one with just over five minutes to play.

Springer staked Mitchell to its largest lead of the period with a three-ball from the corner at the 2:52 mark, and Tagger Jr. answered for the Pride with a three of his own on the next possession. A pair of Jaiwon Martin free throws made it a one-point game, and Chris Keaton knocked down a pair of his own a minute later to put the Pride back on top 30-29 with 1:14 remaining.

Tagger Jr. added a three-point play to push the Pride lead to four, but a Darius Sealy free throw followed by a Josh Maynard tip-in left Regis with a 33-32 lead headed into the break.

McClean opened the second half with back-to-back triples to put Mitchell on top by five, and Tagger Jr. had the answer again with a running drive in the paint. Martin netted a layup to pull Regis within one, but Regis could not get a stop on the defensive end as a three-point play from Ford gave Mitchell a 46-41 advantage with 14:46 remaining.

Regis continued to chip away and a reverse layup from Keaton tied the game at 48-all. Ford and Jean-Gilles traded buckets and Tagger Jr. connected on a deep three to put the Pride back on top 53-50. Mitchell tied it following a pair of Ford freebies, and Hill later put Mitchell on top 55-53 with a basket.

As he had done all night, Tagger Jr. responded for Regis, nailing a corner three to take the lead back for Regis. He and Alan Morgan traded layups to keep Regis on top by one, and Tagger Jr. netted a freet hrow to make it a two-point game at 59-57.

The Pride started to pull away and led by six after a Jordan Monts bucket, but back-to-back layups by Ford kept it a one-possession game and forced a Regis timeout with 3:58 to play with the Pride on top 63-61. The stoppage worked to the Pride's advantage as they ended the game on an 11-2 run, including a huge three from Jean-Gilles, to put the Mariners away.

Regis won both the rebounding (37-34) and turnover battle (13-17) in the game and shot just a shade better from the field (45.9%) compared to Mitchell (45.5%). The Pride had their second-best free throw percentage of the year, knocking down 14-of-18 (77.8%) on the night compared to an 8-for-15 (53.3%) showing from the visitors.

Beyond the game-high 27 points, Tagger Jr. added three rebounds, a pair of assists and four steals. Jean-Gilles joined him in double figures with 14 points and eight rebounds while Chris Leak Jr. came off the bench to record six points and eight boards. Hector Heredia finished with five points, three rebounds, and a game-high seven assists for the Pride.

Mitchell will next host Wheelock College on Thursday, January 22 at 6 p.m.