Men’s Basketball Storms Back to Beat JWU

PROVIDENCE, R.I. – The Mitchell College men's basketball team rallied from an seven-point halftime deficit to collect their first GNAC win of the season on Saturday afternoon, outlasting Johnson & Wales University 67-62 at the Wildcat Center.

Junior Jaylyn Clardy (Pensacola, Fla.) netted a team-high 18 points for the Mariners, and added eight points, three assists and one steal. Junior Wilton Causey (Worcester, Mass.) added 16 points, six rebounds, and two blocks, while senior Dontae Pollard (Fort Walton Beach, Fla.) chipped in 10 points off the bench.

After trailing 39-32 at the intermission, the Mariners spent much of the second half chipping away at the Wildcat's lead. The Mariners tied the game with 1:35 remaining when Jaylyn Clardy knocked down a three-pointer, but Aireus Rasperry responded shortly after with a basket to put JWU back on top, 60-58. With under a minute on the clock, Mitchell freshman Elijah Miller (Ellington, Conn.) delivered the biggest basket of his collegiate career, knocking down a triple with 41 seconds on the clock to put the Mariners ahead by one point, a lead which they would not relinquish. Key free throws down the stretch by Pollard and junior Kenny Lewis (Orlando, Fla.) helped seal the victory for the Mariners, who earned their first conference win as a member of the GNAC.

Aireus Raspberry paced the Wildcats, delivering a game-high 28 points. Raspberry added seven rebounds, two assists, and two steals, while Jonah Phang chipped in seven points and a game-high 15 rebounds.

The Mariners (3-9, 1-1 GNAC) will jump right back into GNAC play on Wednesday, January 10, when they host Albertus Magnus College at 7:00 pm at the Yarnall Athletic Center. The Wildcats (3-9, 1-2 GNAC) will look to rebound with a GNAC game against Saint Joseph College (ME) on Wednesday, January 10.