Saturday, December 10, 2011 (Newton, Massachusetts) - In a sloppy offensive game on both sides, the Mount Ida College men's basketball team handed over a 51-41 non-league victory to visiting Framingham State University Saturday afternoon in Newton, Massachusetts.
The Mustangs were only able to shoot 24 percent from the floor for the contest and a measly 11 percent from downtown going 2-17 from behind the arc. The Rams weren't much better shooting 34 percent from the floor and 30 percent from downtown on the afternoon.
Mount Ida drops their fourth straight contest after starting the season 3-1 falling to an overall record of 3-5 remaining at 0-2 in Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) play. The Rams improve to a 5-6 overall record and have yet to compete in conference competition.
Mount Ida was led by senior guard Keith Jones (Boston, MA/Lake Brantley (FL)/Mass. Bay C.C.) who registered 15 points for the only Mustang in double figures. Jones had a tough day offensively going 1-11 from three point land and 4-21 from the floor. Senior forward Travis Hillery (Tyngsboro, MA/Central Catholic) was a small bright spot for the hosts adding 13 rebounds and three steals performing well defensively. Senior captain Joe Cabral (Walpole, MA/Walpole) added seven rebounds while senior center Jeffrey McNair (Brockton, MA/Brockton) added four blocks and eight caroms.
The visitors saw an outstanding offensive performance from sophomore Tyrone Figueroa (Revere, MA/East Boston) notching a game-high 18 points and 13 boards for the games only double-double. Senior guard Marcus McLaurin (Braintree, MA/Braintree) chipped in 10 points and seven rebounds respectively.
After no more than three points separating the teams in the opening baskets, the visitors jumped ahead by six points up 16-10 with 10:54 to go in the opening stanza following a good lay-in by sophomore forward Yemi Ajao (Randolph, MA/Randolph). Starting from the beginning of the contest the squads had serious problems shooting the ball only 21-63 combined from the floor in the first half.
The Mustangs followed with a small 6-0 run to tie the game at 16-16 two and a half minutes later following a successful jumper by Jones.
Framingham State jumped ahead by four points (20-16) after a good lay-in by freshman Andre Santana (Worcester, MA/Doherty) at the six minute mark.
Mount Ida regained the advantage with 3:39 remaining before the break following the only three pointer Jones would sink for the game up 23-22 finishing the small 7-2 run.
Unfortunately for the Mustangs they were unable to drop in a bucket for the rest of the stanza surrendering an 11-0 run to the Rams to round out the half leading 31-23.
The visitors went ahead in the opening two and a half minutes of the second following a successful lay-in by junior Rico DePaolis (Watertown, MA/Watertown) leading 33-24.
Framingham State continued to hold the advantage for the next 11 minutes up by a couple of baskets throughout the stretch with plenty of help maintaining the lead from Mount Ida who could not find their groove offensively.
Mount Ida cut the visiting advantage down to three (43-40) with 7:43 to go in the contest following a successful lay-in by McNair.
The Rams would go back up by nine points leading 49-40 after two successful free throws from Figueroa capping a 6-0 run inflating the lead with 4:37 remaining.
The Mustangs just could not find their form and were unable to sink a bucket through the final three minutes of play falling 51-41 in non-conference play for their fifth loss of the season.
To finish the first half of the season the Mount Ida College men's basketball team will host non-league Wheelock College Monday evening with game time slated for 6:00 p.m.