MBB Holds Off Purchase in Final Minute

PURCHASE, N.Y. -- The Mitchell College men's basketball team scored seven straight points in the final minute of play to wrap up an 85-80 win at Purchase College on Tuesday night.

Alfonzo Stokes netted a game-high 27 points and chipped in six rebounds and three steals as the Mariners improved to 6-8 overall. Mikey Buscetto contributed 16 points and eight assists while Jalen Benson and Robert Zirlis added 12 points apiece. Mitchell shot a season-high 57 percent from the field and held a 39-36 advantage on the glass, keyed by a team-high seven rebounds from both Zirlis and Jacob Narvaez. Justin Mason paced Purchase (2-10 overall) with 18 points on 8-for-20 shooting.  

The Mariners got off to a quick start, connecting on their first four shot attempts to build an 8-0 lead. Mitchell played with the lead until late in the half when back-to-back jumpers by Jordan Knochen gave the Panthers their first lead with 3:22 to play. However, Stokes scored eight of Mitchell's last 10 points of the period, and the visitors took a slim 38-36 lead into the break. Stokes led all scorers with 16 points on 8-for-11 shooting at intermission. 

In the second half, things were tight until Mitchell used an 11-0 run to open up a 59-50 lead with 12:49 to go. Purchase spent the next seven minutes cutting into the deficit, eventually tying the game at 70-70 on a three by Elijah Holmes with 5:18 remaining.

After falling behind by four with 3:47 left, the Mariners quickly cut the margin down to one as Buscetto drained Mitchell's only three of the night. Zirlis then took over on the next few possessions, drilling a pair of jumpers and supplying a block on the defensive end. Both jumpers came off Buscetto feeds, and Mitchell led 78-75 with 1:30 to play.

The Mariners led by one entering the final minute when Benson hit a shot that sparked the 7-0 run. Buscetto made five free throws to stretch the lead to 85-77, rendering a late three by Mason meaningless to the outcome.

Mitchell will next play at New England College on Saturday, January 22 at 3:30 p.m.