MBB Breezes Past Lesley for First Conference Victory

NEW LONDON, Conn. – Alfonzo Stokes (Bloomfield, Conn.) scored a season high 33 points on 13-17 shooting on Saturday afternoon, leading the Mitchell College men's basketball team to a victory in their conference opener, 125-71 over Lesley University at the Yarnall Athletic Center.

The senior guard added five rebounds and five assists, as the Mariners bounced back from just their third loss of the season and improved their record to 11-3 overall. With the loss, the Lynx fall to 2-12 overall and have now dropped three consecutive games.

Senior Jalen Benson (New London, Conn.) finished with 13 points on 4-5 shooting, to go along with four rebounds, and four assists. Bishop Taylor (Aberdeen, M.D.) came off the bench to score 12 points, while Robert Zirlis (Clinton, Conn.) and Wilton Causey (Worcester Mass.) each had 10 points and six rebounds. Additionally, senior guard Mikey Buscetto (Waterford, Conn.) had a busy day, dishing a season-high 13 assists, grabbing four rebounds, scoring four points, and recording three steals.

14 players ended the day in the scoring column for Mitchell, who shot 40% from the floor and 81.3% from the free throw line.

Causey opened the game with back to back layups, and from there the Mariners were off and running, building a 24-4 lead with seven minutes gone by until Madison McCall hit a three-pointer to stop the run. The Mariners shook that basket off and continued the dominance of their conference rival, building a 26-point lead at the half and eventually holding a 56-point advantage in the waning moments of the second half.

The Lynx were no match for the Mariners inside, as Mitchell won the rebounding battle 44-26 and scored 72 of their season-high 125 points in the paint. The Mariners also dished out 34 assists, forced 25 turnovers, and received 55 points from the bench, also a season-best.

The Mariners (11-3 overall, 1-0 NECC) will return to the court on Wednesday, January 18^th, when they host Trinity College at 6:00 pm at the Yarnall Athletic Center. Lesley (2-12 overall, 0-1 NECC) will look to snap their three game losing skid when they host University of Maine Fort-Kent on Sunday, January 15^th.