MBB Rolls to Win at Lesley

MEDFORD, Mass. -- The Mitchell College men's basketball team never trailed in a 102-73 victory over Lesley University on Saturday afternoon in a New England Collegiate Conference clash at Medford High School.

The Mariners won for the fifth time in their last six games and improved to 9-12 overall (6-2 NECC). Matt Finke led all scorers with a career-high 25 points and shot 5-for-10 from three-point range. Jalen Benson tied a career high with 22 points and handed out four assists while Malik Chase and Hasani Williams contributed 14 and 11 points, respectively.

Mitchell got off to a great start, connecting on its first four shots of the game en route to a 10-0 lead. Benson hit a pair of threes during the stretch while Williams and Chase each added buckets. 

Lesley clawed back to make it a one-point game at 20-19 by the midway point of the stanza, but Mitchell answered back with seven straight points to stay in front. Chase then took over on the offensive end, scoring eight straight points as the Mariners once again built the lead back to double digits. The visitors took a 50-38 lead into the break as Chase led all scorers with 12 points. 

Finke netted 17 of his 25 points after intermission as Mitchell extended the lead to as many as 33. The Mariners shot 52 percent from the floor and went 24-for-36 at the free throw line, a season high for both makes and attempts. 

The win gave Mitchell a season sweep of Lesley, which dropped to 0-20 on the year. It marked the second time the Mariners have cracked 100 points this season; the first also came against the Lynx on January 22.

Mitchell will next host Dean College on Wednesday, February 12 at 6 p.m.