League Leader Becker Races Past MBB
| Final | 1 | 2 | T | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Mitchell (5-7 (3-3 NECC)) | 24 | 30 | 54 |
|
Becker (9-4 (4-0 NECC)) | 43 | 31 | 74 |
LEICESTER, Mass. - The Mitchell College men's basketball team dropped a 74-52 decision to Becker College in NECC action on Tuesday night at Leicester Gym.
Tyler Roberson scored 17 points to pace the Hawks. Becker ran its record to 9-4 with a NECC-leading 4-0 conference mark. Mitchell fell to 5-7 with a 3-3 record in the NECC.
The action was fast-paced early on, highlighted by a flying dunk by Yahmad Rountree to give the host Hawks a 10-7 lead four minutes into the game, sending fans at the Leicester Gym into a frenzy. In a tightly-contested battle, the Hawks used a 12-3 run to open up a 29-18 lead with 7:02 remaining in the period, orchestrated by Terrance Favors who finished the opening half with seven points and six assists. Becker extended the lead to 12 with 5:32 left when Stanley Cunningham pulled down a defensive rebound and threw a long bomb to Rountree for an easy deuce. It was all part of a 19-6 Hawks rally capped off by a fast break layup from Donovin Ford-Hayes with 1:04 remaining to give Becker a 43-24 lead going into halftime.
The Hawks continued to attack at both ends of the court in the second half. Just 3:36 into the period, Rountree tipped an offensive rebound to the big man, Jerome Cohen, who powered his way in for a layup while drawing a hard foul. With 12:18 left in the game, Ford-Hayes hunted down a tipped ball at Becker's end, splitting through two defenders and dunking it home. A minute later, Rountree stole a ball and slammed it on a solo breakaway, putting Becker up 62-33.
Mitchell attempted to respond with a 9-4 run, capped off by a jumper from freshman Michael Pellegrini with 9:21 remaining. As it had throughout the night, Becker found an answer, this time on a driving layup through traffic by Lee Brockett. Brockett would finish with six points and four assists.
Cohen was a force inside with 14 points, eight rebounds, three assists, two blocks and a pair of steals. Rountree added 10 points with seven boards. Ford-Hayes came off the bench to score 12 points with four rebounds. Cunningham pulled down eight boards.
The Mariners were led by Pelligrini's 12 points while senior Enoch Contreras added 11. Sophomore Joshua Ford pulled down a game-high 12 boards with six points while classmate Alex Del Rio dished out six assists.
Mitchell returns to action at home against Elms College on Thursday, January 19 at 7:30 p.m.
