MBB Falters Late at ENC

QUINCY, Mass. -- The Mitchell College men's basketball team came up on the short end of an 84-75 final at Eastern Nazarene College on Wednesday night in a clash of New England Collegiate Conference contenders.

The Lions remained unbeaten in league play and improved to 11-8 overall (6-0 NECC). Garrett Crandell led all scorers with 21 points on 8-for-14 shooting while Jacob Waldroop added 18 points on 6-for-6 shooting. Noah Cheney and David Lopez also finished in double digits with 12 points apiece.

Mitchell saw its three-game win streak snapped and dropped to 7-12 overall (4-2 NECC). Matt Finke shot 5-for-9 from long range and netted a team-high 19 points while Hasani Williams chipped in 18 points and six rebounds in his first action in over a week. Jalen Benson rounded out the Mariners in double figures with 12 points and nine rebounds. 

After the first half yielded a 37-37 deadlock, Mitchell pulled ahead early in the second stanza on the strenghth of a 14-2 run. Leonard Williams sparked the spurt with a layup just 1:33 into the half, and Benson and Finke took over from there. Benson contributed a pair of buckets during the stretch while Finke had eight points, including back-to-back three-pointers to give the Mariners their largest lead at 54-46 with 15:24 remaining. 

Eastern Nazarene responded by scoring 15 of the next 19 points to pull in front. Crandell provided a big three during the span, and the Lions never trailed again.

Mitchell kept within striking distance and eventually tied the game at 68-68 on a putback by Williams with 5:12 to go. The score was then 70-70 when Waldroop hit a three and Crandell added a layup to extend the margin to five. The Mariners answered back with a three by Marvin Baker, but the Lions closed out the game by going 7-for-8 from the free throw line in the final minute.

Both teams shot 53 percent from the floor, although Eastern Nazarene cashed in at the charity stripe. The Lions attempted 20 more free throws and outscored the Mariners 18-0 at the foul line.

Mitchell will next host Becker College on Wednesday, February 5 at 6 p.m.