Thursday, February 3, 2011 (Newton, Massachusetts) – The Mount Ida College men's basketball team used a 20-4 run down the stretch to solidify a 94-81 Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) victory over visiting Emerson College Thursday evening in Newton, Massachusetts. The Mustangs, who had lost the previous six meetings against the Lions through the past four years, collect their fourth (4-8) league victory of the season and their third conference win in four straight GNAC games, compiling an overall record of 7-12. The visitors fall to a season record of 8-11 and drop to 5-7 in conference play.
The Lions led in the opening five minutes of the contest up 14-8 after a successful jumper from junior Nathan Firn (Wadesboro, NC/Joseph A. Foran).
Mount Ida, who shot an impressive 59 percent from the floor for the first half, never backed off with a highly powered offensive attack taking a five point lead with 11:43 to play in the stanza after a good lay-in by junior transfer David Gibbs (East Hartford, CT/The Masters School/UMASS-Amherst).
The Mustangs would eventually make it a half high nine point lead at the five minute mark leading 38-29 following a good trifecta from junior captain Joseph Cabral (Walpole, MA/Walpole).
The host advantage was short lived with the visitors striking back to tie the game at 46-46 following a successful three pointer from Lion junior Carlos Negrete (Orange County, CA/Tesoro) heading into the midway point.
The visitors owned the opening four minutes of the second half taking a commanding 58-49 lead following a 12-2 run capped off on another Negrete trifecta.
The Mustangs awoke from their offensive slump tying the score at 58-58 after a 9-0 run capped on a commanding fast break dunk by Gibbs with 14:17 to go in the contest.
The Lions held on to a small margin leading by five points (63-58) with 12:31 remaining after two good free throw attempts by Negrete.
Mount Ida countered with an impressive 20-4 run taking a game high 16 point advantage with three and a half minutes to go in the game following a lay-in by Mustang junior Keith Jones (Boston, MA/Lake Brantley (FL)/Mass. Bay C.C.) up 85-69.
The hosts did not relinquish their double digit lead from there on out capturing the 94-81 GNAC win good for their fourth of the season. Mount Ida had one of their best performances of the season offensively shooting 51 percent from floor and 40 percent from downtown for the game.
The Mustangs were led by five players in double figures; Jones and junior captain Isiah Benjamin (Windsor, CT/The Masters School) led with 21 points apiece. Gibbs was also outstanding adding 16 points and eight assists while Cabral chipped in 16 points as well going 4-6 from downtown. Mustang junior Travis Hillery (Tyngsboro, MA/Central Catholic) was impressive adding a double-double with 15 points and 12 boards.
Negrete led the Lions with a game high 22 points going 4-9 from the arc adding seven caroms. Junior Drew Ventner (Boston, MA/Mansfield) wasn't far behind with 17 points and eight rebounds. Firn and senior Tom Messinger (Florence, MA/Deerfield Academy) combined for 23 points (12, 11).
Mount Ida will travel to GNAC foe Rivier College this coming Saturday in Nashua, New Hampshire with tip-off slated for 1:00 p.m.