Lesley Tops MBB in OT

NEW LONDON, Conn. – After allowing a late comeback in regulation, Lesley University recovered to win 98-91 in overtime at Mitchell College on Saturday afternoon in a New England Collegiate Conference men's basketball matchup at the Yarnall Athletic Center.

All five Lesley starters scored in double figures led by 22 points from Marquise Johnson, who also added eight rebounds and five assists. Xeo Golding netted 19 points while Devon Mayo contributed 18, half of which came in overtime. Joey Martin finished with 13 points and eight rebounds while Pierre St. Simon chipped in with 11 points, seven boards and four blocks.

Mitchell's Brayvon Young led all scorers with a career-high 28 points and shot 7-for-10 from beyond the arc, tying the school's Division III single game record for threes. Mack Bertram-Gregory added a season-high 23 points while Alan Morgan finished with 10 points and a career-best 14 assists.

The Mariners were down 72-61 with 6:55 to go in regulation before making a push. Back-to-back threes from Bertram-Gregory and Young trimmed the deficit to 74-71 with 4:35 to play, although Johnson answered back with a three for Lesley on the next possession.

Mitchell pulled within two on another trey by Young with 2:08 remaining and later tied the game at 78-78 on a pair of free throws by Bertram-Gregory. A Lesley turnover then gave the Mariners the ball back and a chance at the lead, but St. Simon made a pair of blocks on the defensive end and came up with a big rebound to keep the score knotted.

After taking a timeout, the Lynx set up for a final shot in regulation but were whistled for a traveling violation with 1.6 seconds remaining. Young then attempted a three-quarter court shot for the win that came close but didn't go down.

The Mariners struck first in OT, but the Lynx responded with the next eight points to seize control. Golding put Lesley up with a pair of free throws and also added a dunk during the run. Mayo later drilled a big three with 1:26 to go after Mitchell had made it a one-possession game.

Young is the third Mitchell player in the DIII era to drain seven three-pointers in a game, joining Mike DePaolo and Paul Jefferson in the record books. He also recorded the school's highest single game three-point field goal percentage (10 or more attempts). 

Mitchell (0-12 overall, 0-4 NECC) will next play at Regis College on Tuesday, January 17 at 6 p.m. Lesley (10-5 overall, 4-2 NECC) returns to action at home against Daniel Webster College on Tuesday at 8 p.m.