MBB Hangs Tough In Season Opener, Falls at UMD
| Final | 1 | 2 | T | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Mitchell (0-1) | 41 | 52 | 93 |
|
Mass.-Dartmouth (1-0) | 51 | 51 | 102 |
DARTMOUTH, Mass. – The Mitchell College men's basketball team opened the 2015-16 season with a 102-93 loss to UMass Dartmouth on Friday evening in the opening round of the 2015 Hampton Inn Tournament at the Tripp Athletic Center.
The Mariners trailed by as many as 19 points in the first half before trimming the deficit to 10 at the break. In the second half, Mitchell led by as many as four points before UMass Dartmouth pulled back in front. The Corsairs used back-to-back three-pointers to open up an eight-point lead with 2:07 to play to seal the win.
Mitchell senior Frank Martin poured in a career-high 36 points to lead all scorers. The Mariners finished with three players in double figures while all five UMD starters reached double-figure scoring marks in the game, led by senior Jordan Rezendes' 35 points. Rezendes nearly achieved a triple-double on the night, as he paced the Corsairs with 12 rebounds and eight assists.
The contest opened with UMass Dartmouth firing on all cylinders, with the Corsairs leading by as much as 19 halfway through the first half. UMD opened the game on a 10-0 run, with junior Jahleel Moise scoring the first and last baskets of the run on layups. For the stanza, the Corsairs shot 56.8 percent from the field, including securing 30 of their 51 points in the paint and 10 from Mitchell turnovers.
The Mariners were able to trim the lead to 10 at half, thanks to a buzzer-beating layup from freshman Domenico Santiago. Santiago put forth a solid first half, connecting on 5-of-8 from the field for 10 points, while Martin added 12 points. Collectively, Mitchell converted of 17-of-42 shooting to enter the break.
Momentum swung when play resumed, as the Mariners quickly did away with the Corsair lead. Mitchell's fast break play commanded the first six minutes to even the score at 59 at the 14:48 mark. The Mariners were led by Martin all half, as he connected for three three-pointers in the first six minutes along with a layup and a steal.
The next seven minutes saw leads traded, until UMass Dartmouth was able to take control for good at the 7:37 mark on one of Rezendes' five triples on the night. Free-throw performance secured the win, as UMD went 11-for-12 from the charity stripe on the game.
Martin closed the contest with a game-high 36 points, going 6-for-6 from long range in the second half. Additionally, he was perfect from the foul line (8-for-8) with four steals and five rebounds.
Moise finished with 16 points on 8-for-13 shooting in his Corsair debut, while freshman Nick Portelance and junior Abi Akanni each added 16 points. Portelance collected nine rebounds while Akanni snatched eight. Junior Jon Robinson contributed 15 points on 6-of-8 shooting from the field.
Mitchell senior Donavan McClean scored 17 points in the second half to finish with 23 in the game and also added nine rebounds. Santiago registered a double-double with 14 points with 13 boards in his collegiate debut. Sophomore Alan Morgan finished with six points and seven assists while classmate Brayvon Young chipped in with eight points off the bench. The Mariners connected of 11-of-18 (61 percent) tries from long range.
In the final day of the Hampton Inn Tournament, Mitchell will meet Fitchburg State University in the consolation game. Tip-off is scheduled for 4:30 p.m.
