MBB Stays Hot at Lesley, Wins 86-69

CAMBRIDGE, Mass. – Mitchell College sophomore Alan Morgan finished with 19 points, nine assists, and six rebounds to lead Mitchell College past host Lesley University, 86-69, Saturday evening in New England Collegiate Conference men's basketball action at the Nicholas Athletics Center.

The win is the second in a row for the Mariners as they moved to 3-8 on the season and 2-3 in NECC play. The Lynx dipped to 2-13 overall and 1-5 in the conference.

Morgan was one of four Mariners who finished in doubles figures. Senior Parris Hill added 19 points and six boards while classmate Donavan McClean finished with 17 points, a team-high seven rebounds and a pair of steals. Freshman Domenico Santiago chipped in with 15 points while corralling six caroms.

Lesley junior Devon Mayo led all players with 23 points to go with six rebounds and four assists. Fellow junior Terrell Toney added 12 points while classmate Pierre St. Simon notched his second straight double-double with 10 points and 10 boards. Senior Chris Barletta dumped in nine points and dished out a team-best six assists while freshman William Cuffee came off the bench for eight points and a career-high seven rebounds.

Mayo started the game hot for the Lynx, scoring Lesley's first seven points as the hosts opened up a 9-2 lead. Later in the half, a pair of Cuffee free throws put Lesley up 26-20 before consecutive jumpers by McClean sparked an 18-6 run for the Mariners over the final six minutes of the first. Mitchell headed to the locker room with a 38-32 lead at the break. 

Back-to-back buckets from Cuffee and Mayo to start the second brought the Lynx to within two at 38-36, but the Mariners answered to push their lead to 11 following a 13-4 stretch capped by a pair of Santiago freebies. 

A Casey Blanchard triple with 12:10 to go cut the Lynx's deficit to six at 53-47, but again Mitchell countered with a three from Hill that ignited an 8-0 run to extend the advantage back to double digits at 61-47. The Mariners built the lead to as many as 22 points in the half to notch their second straight NECC win. 

Mitchell hit on 51 percent (36-of-66) of their attempts from the floor while holding Lesley to just 40 percent (27-of-67). The Mariners also held a 43-36 advantage on the glass and used a 21-10 edge in fastbreak points on the night.  

The Lynx will look to get back in the win column on Tuesday, January 19 at Daniel Webster College for an NECC tilt at 7:00 p.m. The Mariners will also be back in NECC action on Tuesday as they will play host to Regis College at 6:00 p.m.