MBB Gets Back On Track Against Becker

NEW LONDON, Conn. – The Mitchell College men's basketball team picked up an 82-68 victory over Becker College on Wednesday night in a New England Collegiate Conference showdown at the Yarnall Athletic Center.

The Mariners led by five midway through the second half but broke the game open with an 8-0 run with 7:15 remaining. Mitchell led by double digits the rest of the way, evening its record to 9-9 overall and improving to 5-2 in NECC play.

Domenico Santiago led all players with 26 points and also grabbed a game-high 16 rebounds for his ninth double-double of the season. Brayvon Young added 19 points and four assists while Hasani Williams recorded his team-leading 10th double-double of the year with 14 points and 10 boards.

Kareem Davis paced Becker (9-9 overall, 4-3 NECC) with 16 points, five assists and four steals. Dewayne Thomas chipped in 15 points and eight rebounds while Antonio White Jr. contributed 11 points. Samuel Durodola, who battled foul trouble throughout and played just 24 minutes, finished with 11 points and eight boards.

Neither side led by more than five points in a first half that featured two ties and seven lead changes. Mitchell's final possession of the stanza resulted in a three-pointer by Young that yielded a 36-35 lead at intermission. Young led the Mariners with 11 points at the break while Thomas netted 13 to fuel the Hawks.

The lead changed hands four more times in the first 1:30 of the second half, although Mitchell pulled ahead for good on a jumper by Williams that made it 40-39. Later in the stanza, a put-back by Santiago and a fast-break layup by Steffen Brunson gave the Mariners a 58-50 lead and forced a Becker timeout with 9:43 to go.

On the ensuing possession, the Hawks cut the margin back to five on a three-point play by Davis. The deficit was still five when Mitchell went on its big run, which was sparked by a three-pointer from Matt Finke. Alan Morgan added a jumper on the following Mitchell possession, and Young capped the stretch with a three to extend the lead to 68-55 with 7:15 to play.

Mitchell shot 52 percent in the second half and 48 percent for the game. The Mariners held a 16-4 scoring edge in transition and held the Hawks to 38-percent shooting in the second half.

Mitchell will next host Newbury College on Saturday, January 27 at 1 p.m. Becker returns to action at Elms College on Saturday at 1 p.m.