MBB Holds on at Elms

CHICOPEE, Mass. -- Mitchell College held on for a 79-75 victory at Elms College on Tuesday night in New England Collegiate Conference men's basketball action. 

The Mariners, who picked up their fourth-straight win and secured a season sweep of the Blazers, built an 18-point lead in the second half. However, Elms chipped away over a 14-minute stretch, eventually cutting the deficit to just three at 66-63 with 3:22 to play. The teams traded buckets before Mitchell padded its lead with a 6-0 spurt that gave the visitors a nine-point lead with less than a minute to go. The Blazers fought back to within three on two more occasions in the final 20 seconds but could never get any closer.

The Blazers had no answer for Domenico Santiago, who finished with game highs of 19 points and 18 rebounds. Steffen Brunson matched Santiago's 19 points and added three rebounds and three steals for the Mariners. Matt Finke scored 13 points while Hasani Williams added 11. 

Nikolas Brown led Elms with 18 points and 10 rebounds, his second double-double of the season. David Lopez Jr added 14 points and five assists while Andre Peguero scored 12 points and Justin Feliciano finished with 10.

Mitchell dominated the glass, finishing with a 47-30 rebounding advantage. The Mariners also shot well from the floor, connecting on a 52-percent clip that included a 4-for-11 effort from three-point range. Elms shot 44 percent and hit seven three-pointers.

Mitchell (11-6, 6-3 NECC) will next host Newbury College on Thursday, January 24 at 6 p.m.