Wheelock Races Past MBB Despite DePaolo's 32 Points
NEW LONDON, Conn. - Despite a career-high 32 points from senior Mike DePaolo,
the Mitchell College men's basketball team suffered an 85-61 loss
to Wheelock College on Saturday afternoon at the Yarnall Athletic
Center.
DePaolo shot 12-of-19 from the floor and made a career-best seven
three-pointers to pace the Mariners (2-12 overall, 1-5 NECC). Max
Kaim led four Wildcats in double figures with 17 points on 8-of-9
shooting and added five steals. Wheelock (10-6 overall, 3-3 NECC)
shot 55 percent in the game and held a 41-35 advantage on the
glass.
Wheelock took control early in the contest, scoring 10 unanswered
points to pull ahead for a lead it would never relinquish. Sherard
Robbins ignited the run with a lay-up that was followed by a
three-pointer by Dan Main, who later capped the stretch with a free
throw to put the Wildcats up 14-6 with 14:40 to play in the
half.
After pushing the lead to 11 on a jumper by Kaim with 8:12 to go,
Wheelock never let the lead dip below double digits. The Wildcats
built the margin to as many as 21 in the final minutes of the half
before heading to the locker room with a 43-24 advantage. Wheelock
shot 62 percent in the stanza while Mitchell checked in at just 31
percent.
DePaolo scored 22 of his 32 points in the second half, shooting
8-of-10 from the field and 5-of-7 from long range. The Mariners,
however, failed to make up any ground, as the Wildcats continued to
get good shots and knocked them down.
Main finished with 16 points on 5-of-8 shooting while Robbins and
Victor Kashouh added 12 and 11 points, respectively. Robbins also
pulled down a team-high eight rebounds while Main chipped in with
six.
DePaolo was the only Mitchell player to score in double figures,
notching the first 30-point game of his collegiate career. Junior
Pat Nielsen
added season highs of nine points and five rebounds to help the
Mariners' cause.
Mitchell will next host Becker College on Thursday, January 28 at
the Yarnall Athletic Center. Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m.