The Mount Ida College men's basketball team snapped a six game skid this Wednesday night against visiting Rivier College winning 76-63. It was also the Mustangs first Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) victory of the season and their first win of 2009. Mount Ida improves to 7-7 overall, 1-6 in the GNAC while the Raiders drop to 8-5, 5-3 in conference play.
Rivier took an immediate 11-4 advantage up seven points with 15:11 to go in the first half capped off on a lay-in by junior Luke Brownell (Hubbardston, MA/Quabbin Regional). The Raiders held a small margin for the next seven minutes over the hosts until the Mustangs tied it on a four point play by senior Gino Dipietro (Westbrook, ME/Westbrook) who drained a three and was fouled.
The teams exchanged baskets for the next three minutes with Mount Ida up by six at 32-26 off a Dave Santos (Mattapan, MA/Ben Franklin Institute) trifecta, his first of three during the contest. The Mustangs would eventually head into the locker room with a two point advantage leading 38-36.
The second half started with the visitors knotting the score at 38-38 for the sixth time in the game after two good free throws by sophomore D.J. Poitras (Bow, NH/Bow). The score would tie three more times in the next four minutes before the Mustangs pulled ahead by six after a Santos lay-in up 50-44.
The small lead did not last very long for Mount Ida who eventually went cold while the Raiders pounded a 12-0 run gaining the six point advantage with 9:51 to go in the game. The Mustangs came right back and tied the game for the 10th time after a small 9-0 run of their own up 59-56.
Mount Ida started to heat up with the Bunch/Santos tandem taking over the game leading by nine points after a Santos three ball up 69-60. The Mustangs held strong and eventually captured their first GNAC victory of the season winning 76-63.
Although the Raiders shot 72 percent for the charity stripe at 18-25, the Mustangs defense was outstanding causing 25 turnovers and only giving up 13; one of their season low's for the year. They also notched 16 steals with senior Matt Bennett (Rochester, NH/Spaulding), Bunch, and Santos combining for 10.
Santos, who recently returned from the injury list, led Mount Ida with 24 points and two boards. Bennett registered his third double-double of the season with 12 points and 12 caroms while Bunch notched 19 points, six boards, and four assists.
Rivier was led by senior Kevin Harrington (Center Ossipee, NH/Bishop Brady) who dropped in 19 as well as 3-5 from downtown. Browell and senior Lance Bisson (Nashua, NH/Nashua North) combined for 27 points.
The Mustangs will have a short break with no action over the weekend and start back up next Tuesday at Emmanuel College with tip-off coming at 7:00 p.m.