Long-Range Shooting Keys MBB's Win Over Daniel Webster

NEW LONDON, Conn. – A late surge in the first half propelled the Mitchell College men's basketball team to a 106-84 victory over Daniel Webster College on Tuesday night in New England Collegiate Conference play at the Yarnall Athletic Center.

The Mariners (11-11 overall, 8-6 NECC) buried a season-high 12 three-pointers en route to their highest point total of the year. Parris Hill led all scorers with 34 points on 12-for-18 shooting and grabbed 10 rebounds. Donavan McClean sank four treys and finished with 18 points while Joshua Ford added 12 points, seven assists and six boards. Frank Martin rounded out Mitchell's double-digit scorers with 10 points and dished out a career-high 10 assists for his first career double-double. 

Ray Farmer paced Daniel Webster (10-13 overall, 7-7 NECC) with 20 points and added eight rebounds, five assists and two steals. Shawn Fenton contributed 17 points and eight boards while Ryan Gauthier and Michael Campbell chipped in with 16 and 13 points, respectively.

The Mariners came out of the gate hot and made four of their first five shots to take an 11-2 lead after 2:02. McClean connected on back-to-back threes in the opening minute while Hill added one of his own as Mitchell seized control.

The Eagles weathered the early barrage and scored the next six points to pull within three. Later in the half, Mitchell scored eight straight points to extend the margin back to 12, but Farmer and Fenton combined for the next seven points as Daniel Webster kept stride.

The Eagles fell behind by 10 with 4:44 to go in the half but once again had an answer. This time it was Fenton and Campbell who provided eight straight points to whittle the deficit to two at 32-30 with 3:06 to play.

However, Mitchell had the final say of the first half, closing out the stanza with 10 straight points. McClean provided an explosive dunk during the span while Ford beat the buzzer to give the Mariners a 42-30 lead at the break. Fenton had 13 points to pace all scorers at intermission while Hill led Mitchell with 12.

The Mariners never let the lead dip into single digits in the second half, and an 11-0 run in the opening moments of the stanza pumped the margin to 21 points. Mitchell extended the lead to as many as 28 in the second half as Hill led the way with 22 of his 34 points.

Devonta Mosley and Josh Maynard each contributed nine points off the bench for Mitchell. Mosley also grabbed five rebounds while Maynard drilled three shots from beyond the arch.

Mitchell forced 19 turnovers and held a 28-11 edge in points off turnovers. The Mariners also held a commanding scoring advantage in transition (37-14) and finished with 26 assists on 38 field goals.

Mitchell will next host Newbury College on Thursday, February 19 at 6 p.m. Daniel Webster returns to action at home against Becker College on Thursday at 5:30 p.m.