MBB Wraps Regular Season by Downing ENC

QUINCY, Mass. -- The Mitchell College men's basketball team held off Eastern Nazarene College 96-89 in a New England Collegiate Conference showdown on Saturday evening at the Lahue Athletic Center. With the win, the Mariners closed the regular season with a record of 21-4 while also going undefeated within the conference.

Senior Alfonzo Stokes (Bloomfield, Conn.) poured in a game-high 28 points, and added seven rebounds and six assists. Fellow senior Mikey Buscetto (Waterford, Conn.) notched his third double-double of the season, finishing with 18 points, including four three-pointers, to go along with a season-best 14 assists, and nine rebounds. Sophomore Wilton Causey (Worcester, Mass.) came off the bench to contribute 15 points and nine rebounds, while junior Dontae Pollard (Fort Walton Beach, Fla.) also had a strong game off the bench, chipping in 14 points, four rebounds, three assists, and three steals.

The Mariners opened the game by scoring the first eight points and went on to hold a six-point advantage at halftime. Leading by 11 points with 2:06 remaining, Eastern Nazarene came out of a timeout and scored five quick points to trim their deficit to six. Two perfect trips to the free throw line by Stokes with just under a minute on the clock sealed the gave for the Mariners, who shot 45.6% from the floor, 40% from three, and 76.2% from the charity stripe.

Levi White posted a 27-point, 13-rebound double-double in the loss for the Lions, who have dropped four of their last six games. Nick Manso came off the bench to score 18 points for Eastern Nazarene, and was joined in double-figures by Kobe Jones, who scored 17, and Bernie McGuinness, who finished with 14 points and nine rebounds.

Despite losing the rebounding battle 46-44, Mitchell received 37 points from their bench and forced 18 turnovers.

The Mariners (21-4 overall, 6-0 NECC) earned the No. 1 seed in the upcoming NECC Men's Basketball Championship, and will host Lesley University in a conference a semifinal game on Wednesday, February 22^nd, at 6:00 pm. Eastern Nazarene (11-14 overall, 3-3 NECC) will face off against New England College in the semifinal round of the upcoming NECC tournament.