MBB Falls to Albertus Magnus

MBB Falls to Albertus Magnus

NEW LONDON, Conn. – A shorthanded Mitchell College kept it close in a 91-81 loss to Albertus Magnus College on Thursday night in non-conference men's basketball action at the Yarnall Athletic Center.

Ryan Pittman scored 23 points to lead the Falcons, who improved to 4-2 on the season. Jaqhawn Walters added a double-double of 22 points and a career-high 24 rebounds to go with two blocks. Amir Maddred and Mason Jones also scored in double digits with 13 and 11 points, respectively.

Colizel Lewis netted a season-high 23 points and shot a perfect 10-for-10 from the free throw line to pace the Mariners (2-5 overall). Domenico Santiago chipped in with 14 points and eight rebounds while Mack Bertram-Gregory tacked on 12 points. Matt Finke came off the bench to score a career-high 10 points and handed out a game-high six assists.

With three players nursing injuries and leading scorer Hasani Williams on the bench with early foul trouble, Mitchell played the majority of the first half without four of its regular starters. The Mariners didn't back down, however, and battled back from a nine-point deficit to tie the score with just over two minutes to go in the stanza.

A late run, capped by a three by Jones before the buzzer, gave the Falcons a 45-39 lead at the break. Pittman had 10 points in the half to lead Albertus Magnus while Lewis paced Mitchell with 13.

The Falcons came out hot to start the second half, pushing the margin to 56-41 by the 16:16 mark. Maddred scored the first five points of the period while Walters added a pair of buckets.

A Pittman three with 10:52 to play gave Albertus Magnus its biggest lead of the night at 71-52. Mitchell eventually whittled the deficit back to 10 but never got within single digits.

The Falcons finished with 21 offensive rebounds—including 14 in the second half—and outscored the Mariners 25-8 on second-chance points.

Mitchell will next play at Connecticut College on Saturday, December 9 at 3 p.m. Albertus Magnus returns to action at Norwich University on Saturday at 1 p.m.