MBB Runs Winning Streak to Five at Wheelock
| Final | 1 | 2 | T | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Mitchell (7-3, 4-0 NECC) | 41 | 42 | 83 |
|
Wheelock (0-10, 0-3 NECC) | 28 | 44 | 72 |
CHESTNUT HILL, Mass. – The Mitchell College men's basketball team shot 57 percent and extended its winning streak to five games with an 83-72 victory over Wheelock College on Thursday night in New England Collegiate Conference action at Brunelli Court.
After seeing his streak of double-doubles snapped last time out, senior forward Joshua Ford got back on track with game highs of 33 points and 15 rebounds to pace the Mariners. Junior Parris Hill chipped in with 18 points and six rebounds while senior Anthony Epps notched 16 points and eight boards in his season debut.
Anthony Williams led four Wheelock players in double figures with 19 points. The Wildcats shot 43 percent from the floor but were outrebounded by a 38-26 margin.
Ford kept the Mariners in front early, scoring 10 of the team's first 20 points over the opening nine minutes. Mitchell took the lead by scoring 11 straight points during a six-minute stretch in which Wheelock went without a bucket.
A lay-up by Epps with 2:14 remaining in the period gave the Mariners their largest lead of the half at 38-22. The Wildcats cut the deficit back to 10 in the final seconds, but a three-pointer by Ford at the buzzer put Mitchell up 41-28 at the break. Ford had 15 points at intermission while both Hill and Epps had 11.
Wheelock erased the deficit over the first nine minutes of the second stanza, tying the game at 50-50 on a lay-up by Nicholas Fenton. The Mariners never fell behind, however, and scored 19 of the next 21 points to seize control. Ford accounted for 12 points during the span while Mitchell netted nine points at the free throw line, where they finished with a commanding 22-9 point advantage for the contest.
Ford recorded his team-leading ninth double-double of the season and also contributed three assists. He shot 11-for-15 from the floor and 10-for-13 from the line to net his fourth 30-point game of the year.
Mitchell (7-3 overall, 4-0 NECC) will next play at Regis College on Saturday, January 11 at 2 p.m.
