Saturday, February 12, 2011 (Newton, Massachusetts) – The Mount Ida College men's basketball team built a commanding 19-2 advantage in the first nine minutes of the game and never looked back capturing a crucial 93-64 Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) victory over visiting Suffolk University Saturday afternoon in Newton, Massachusetts. The Mustangs, who need one more victory to solidify a play-off spot for the second year in a row, snap a two game losing streak and improve to an overall record of 8-14 standing at 5-10 in the conference. The Rams fall to 6-16 for the year and drop a 4-11 GNAC record.
After building the big 19-2 lead to start the game, Mount Ida did not surrender double-digit points from the Rams until the 10 minute mark in the first half following a sophomore Matt Pepdjonovic (Quincy, MA/Boston College HS) dunk with the Rams trailing 25-10.
The Mustangs would eventually pile on the offense going ahead by a half high 18 points after a successful and-1 attempt by junior captain Joe Cabral (Walpole, MA/Walpole) leading 28-10.
The double-digit margin by Mount Ida was not given up and the Mustangs ended up heading into the locker room with a commanding 18 point advantage up 45-27 following a junior Keith Jones (Boston, MA/Lake Brantley (FL)/Mass. Bay C.C.) lay-in at the buzzer.
Mount Ida made it a 25 point lead in the opening two minutes of the second half leading 56-31 after a successful lay-in by junior captain Travis Hillery (Tyngsboro, MA/Central Catholic).
The visitors countered chipping away at the large deficit and eventually chopped the Mustangs lead down to 14 points capped on a senior Mike Fleming (Exeter, NH/Tilton) jumper at the 13:37 mark.
The Mustangs would go back up by 20 points with 11:35 to go in the game following a junior Isiah Benjamin (Windsor, CT/The Masters School) lay-in. With eight minutes to play, the visitors cut the lead back down to 13 points after a sophomore Colin Halpin (Melrose, MA/Boston College HS) lay-up.
That was as close as the Rams would get while they watched the Mustangs build a game high 31 point lead on unconscious shooting capped on a junior Jimmy Wenz (Bayport, NY/Bayport-Blue Point) jumper from the foul line. The Mustangs rode out the final minute and a half for the 93-64 GNAC victory good for their eight overall win of the season.
Mount Ida saw four players in double figures led by Jones with a game high 26 points on 9-22 shooting from the floor adding six boards. Hillery notched the teams' only double-double with 15 points and 11 caroms while Benjamin chipped in 16 points and four steals. Cabral was also outstanding with 14 points and five rebounds going 3-5 from downtown. Junior transfer David Gibbs (East Hartford, CT/The Masters School/UMASS-Amherst) was also impressive with nine points and nine assists.
The visitors saw an extraordinary performance from Pepdjonovic adding a double-double with a team high 24 points and 15 caroms. Halpin chipped in 12 points and five boards as well.
The Mustangs will travel to neighboring GNAC rival Lasell College Tuesday night with tip-off slated for 7:00 p.m.