MBB Picks Up First NECC Win Against Daniel Webster
NEW LONDON, Conn. - The Mitchell College men's basketball team
picked up its first NECC win of the season on Saturday afternoon
with a 75-65 victory over Daniel Webster College at the Yarnall
Athletic Center.
Seniors Eric
Murray and Mike DePaolo led
the way for the Mariners (2-9 overall, 1-3 NECC) offensively.
Murray netted a game-high 24 points and grabbed eight rebounds
while DePaolo finished with 22 points. Chris Hanson scored 19
points to lead the Eagles (4-7 overall, 0-2 NECC) while Chris
Voukides added 11.
The Mariners got out of the gates quickly and led 12-4 after the
first five minutes. After the Eagles cut the deficit to 12-9
following free throws from Adam Landry and a three-pointer by Keith
Speed, Mitchell responded with a 12-4 run to push the lead to
double digits at 24-13 with under nine minutes to play in the
stanza. DePaolo, who made three treys on the day, hit two during
the stretch to fuel the attack.
The Eagles hung tough for the rest of the half, cutting the deficit
to seven on multiple occasions, including on a pair of Hanson free
throws with under a minute to play. The Mariners, however, took the
momentum into the locker room as DePaolo buried a three before the
halftime buzzer.
Mitchell forced 11 turnovers in the first half and committed only
five. Both squads shot 44 percent in the stanza, but the Mariners
held a 44-34 lead thanks to a 15-5 edge in points off turnovers.
DePaolo led all scorers at the break with 15 points.
The Mariners never trailed in the second half but had to hold off
several strong charges from the Eagles. Daniel Webster pulled to
within three at 58-55 on a three-pointer by John Hickson with 10:20
to go in the contest. Mitchell responded with eight straight
points-four from Murray and four from junior Drew Norris-to pump the
lead back to double digits.
The Eagles again cut the deficit to three at 68-65 with 3:00
remaining on a trey by Hanson. Daniel Webster then got a stop on
the defensive end and had a chance to tie, but Hanson's attempt was
off the mark and the Mariners corralled the rebound. The Eagles
missed on their final eight field goal attempts of the game while
Mitchell sealed the win by going 6-of-6 from the charity
stripe.
The Mariners shot 40 percent from the floor and forced 18
turnovers. Sophomore Alex Vess finished with
10 points and three rebounds while Norris had a strong second half
and added six points and six rebounds.
Daniel Webster shot 34 percent for the game and made just 8-of-33
from long range. Landry finished with eight points and four boards
while Eric Suarez chipped in with seven points and a game-high 10
rebounds.
Mitchell will next play at Connecticut College on Monday, January
18 at 7 p.m.
