MBB Holds Off Dean

FRANKLIN, Mass.  – The Mitchell College men's basketball team held on late to post a 94-90 victory over Dean College on Wednesday night in non-conference action at Pieri Gymnasium.

The Mariners evened their record to 2-2 on the young season. Jalen Benson led the visitors with 20 points and added five assists, five steals and four rebounds before fouling out late. Alfonzo Stokes and Mikey Buscetto contributed 19 points apiece, and the latter also handed out a season-high 13 assists, tying the single game high in a NCAA Division III game this season. Hunter Baillargeon came off the bench to chip in a season-high 12 points on 5-for-8 shooting.

Winston Bryan led four Bulldogs in double figures with a game-high 25 points. Mark Blair finished with 15 points and 15 rebounds as Dean (3-1 overall) suffered its first loss of the season.

Mitchell came out on the winning end of a contest that saw 13 lead changes and 10 ties. Midway through the first half, the Mariners trailed by eight but pulled even behind an 8-0 burst that was capped by a Benson three. Later, in the final seconds of the period, Buscetto drilled a three to put the visitors up 50-47 at the break.

Early in the second half, Dean used a 10-0 run to erase a six-point deficit and led 63-59 following a bucket by Nick Sampeck. Mitchell countered with back-to-back threes from Benson to regain the lead, but the score remained tight for the next seven minutes.

Mitchell pulled ahead for good on a three by Baillargeon, and the Mariners slowly built the margin up over the next several minutes. Another three by Buscetto–his fifth of the night–finally pushed the lead to double digits at 91-81 with 3:25 to go. Dean whittled the deficit down in the final minutes but never made it a single-possession game.   

The Mariners were outscored 66-46 in the paint but made up for it from long range, draining a season-high 12 three-pointers. Mitchell also registered season highs in field goal percentage (.535) and three-point field goal percentage (.414).

Mitchell will next face WPI at the Herb Kenny Tournament (Wesleyan University) on Saturday, November 20 at 7:30 p.m.