MBB Holds Off Regis for 84-79 Win

NEW LONDON, Conn. – The Mitchell College men's basketball team never trailed in the second half en route to an 84-79 win over Regis College on Tuesday night in a New England Collegiate Conference matchup at the Yarnall Athletic Center.

Domenico Santiago battled through foul trouble to lead Mitchell (4-8 overall, 3-3 NECC) with 23 points on 11-for-13 shooting. He also grabbed a team-high 14 rebounds despite logging only 24 minutes of action. Parris Hill and Alan Morgan each chipped in 17 points while Frank Martin contributed 16 in the victory.

Regis (4-11 overall, 1-5 NECC) was also led by a rookie big man as Ademola Afonja finished with 27 points and 11 rebounds and was 11-for-13 from the floor. Jeff Tagger Jr. added 13 points and seven assists while Isaiah Wilson and Jawaun Lewis each tacked on eight points.

Santiago and Morgan provided all of Mitchell's offense in the early going. Each scored six points in the opening 6:37, and Morgan's jumper gave the Mariners their first lead at 12-10. Mitchell never trailed again and increased the margin to as many as nine in the half, though Regis fought back to within five at 38-33 by intermission.

In the second half, the Pride got within three when Chris Leak Jr. completed a three-point play to cut the score to 47-44 with 13:39 remaining. The Mariners responded with free throws from Donavan McClean and a jumper by Morgan to keep Regis at bay.

Mitchell later extended the lead to double digits on a three-pointer by Martin, and then took its biggest lead at 65-52 following a three-point play from Santiago with 6:54 to go. The Pride never gave up, however, and clawed back to within seven behind an 8-2 run that was capped by a jumper from Tagger with 3:09 to play.

On the ensuing Mitchell possession, Santiago came up with a big offensive rebound and fought through a swarm of defenders for the put back and foul. Just over a minute later, Martin picked off an outlet pass for an uncontested layup and bumped the lead back to double digits.

Mitchell shot 56 percent for the contest and went 4-for-10 from beyond the arc. Regis shot 46 percent but went just 3-for-16 from deep. The Pride enjoyed a 39-34 edge on the glass that included 20 offensive rebounds, resulting in a 21-12 advantage in second-chance points.  

Hill, who netted 13 of his 17 points in the first half, handed out a career-best five assists. Morgan also dished out five helpers, and Nana Nkrumah turned in a strong effort off the bench with Santiago in foul trouble.

Mitchell will next play at Wheelock College on Thursday, January 21 at 8:30 p.m. Regis returns to action at home against Southern Vermont College on Saturday, January 23 at 3 p.m.