MBB Holds Off RIC for Sixth Consecutive Victory
| Final | 1 | 2 | T | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Mitchell (6-1) | 40 | 32 | 72 |
|
Rhode Island Col. (2-6) | 27 | 43 | 70 |
PROVIDENCE, R.I. – The Mitchell College men's basketball team returned from the Thanksgiving holiday and won their sixth consecutive game on Tuesday night, outlasting Rhode Island College 72-70 in non-conference action at the Murray Center.
Senior guard Mikey Buscetto (Waterford, Conn.) matched his season high with a team-best 18 points, while also adding five rebounds, three assists, and five steals. Buscetto was one of four Mariners who reached double-digit points, as Alfonzo Stokes (Bloomfield, Conn.) poured in 15, and Jalen Benson (New London, Conn.) and Wilton Causey (Worcester, Mass.) each added 11. Benson also contributed eight rebounds, four assists, and four steals in the victory.
The game saw the Mariners jump ahead early, using an 11-0 run to take control on route to a 13 point advantage at halftime. That lead did not last, however, as the Anchormen opened the second half on a 14-2 run, which made it a one-point game with 14:46 remaining.
Baskets by Benson, Buscetto, Stokes, and Dontae Pollard (Fort Walton Beach, Fla.) immediately followed, which pushed the Mariners lead back to double-digits, 54-41. RIC continued to battle, eventually tying the game 70-70 on a made layup by Nathaniel Maldonado with under a minute left on the clock.
With just 21 seconds left in the game, senior Ahmani Browne (St. John's, Antigua) got a layup to fall, pushing Mitchell back on top by two, and the Anchormen proceeded to miss a pair of layups in the final seconds, allowing the visiting squad to escape with a narrow victory.
Maldonado paced RIC, scoring a team-best 17 points, while Mitchel Noresca posted a 15-point, 19-rebound double-double. The pair was joined in double-figures by Xavier Landers (14 points, seven rebounds) and Victor Olivera-Rodriguez (12 points, eight rebounds, eight assists, five steals).
Mitchell shot just 36.4% from the field, but finished 13-17 from the free throw line, and turned the ball over only 11 times compared to 21 for the home team.
Having not lost a game since their season opener back on the 9th of November, the Mariners (6-1) will look to stay hot on Saturday, December 3rd, when they return home to host Westfield St. at 1:00 pm. The Anchormen (2-6) travel to face Castleton on Saturday, December 3rd at 4:00 pm.