Tuesday, February 7, 2012 (Newton, Massachusetts) - All five starters for the Mount Ida College men's basketball team notched double figures in points en route to a 75-71 Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) victory over visiting Emerson College Tuesday evening in Newton, Massachusetts.
Trailing by 11 points (41-30) at halftime, the Mustangs came charging back in the second frame shooting over 54 percent from the floor and beyond the arc to solidify the win. The Lions made it interesting at the end, but solid free throw shooting by the hosts sealed the league bid.
After suffering a tough overtime loss to conference rival Lasell College Saturday Mount Ida bounces back improving to an overall record of 8-13 good for a 5-9 GNAC slate. The visitors fall to 4-18 for the year slumping to 4-12 in league play.
Senior captain Joe Cabral (Walpole, MA/Walpole) recorded a game-high 20 points careening seven rebounds as well. Senior's Travis Hillery (Tyngsboro, MA/Central Catholic) and Isiah Benjamin (Windsor, CT/The Masters School) chipped in 16 points a piece with Benjamin adding seven assists. Junior center Jeffrey McNair (Brockton, MA/Brockton) tallied eight points and 10 caroms while senior guard Keith Jones (Boston, MA/Lake Brantley (FL)/Mass Bay C. C.) notched 13 points on 5-11 shooting.
The visiting Lions saw four players in double figures led by senior guard Drew Venter (Boston, MA/Mansfield) with 15 points and seven dishes. Sophomore guard James Rhodes (Hebron, CT/East Catholic) was hot from outside knocking down 4-of-8 from downtown adding 14 points. Senior forward Nathan Firn (Wadesboro, NC/Joseph A. Foran) chipped in 13 points while freshman Eli Kell-Abrams (Berkeley, CA/Westtown School) tallied 10 all on lay in's.
The action was close for the first five minutes (14:47) with the visitors holding a 10-8 advantage after a successful lay-up by Kell-Abrams.
Mount Ida jumped ahead 13-10 three minutes (12:07) later finalized following a three point play the hard way from Benjamin.
The score remained close with no more than a basket separating the action with the game tied for the fifth time since the opening at 22-22 after a trifecta from Cabral for the hosts.
An 11-0 run immediately following by Emerson gave the visitors a momentum driven 33-26 lead with four and a half minutes to go before the break.
The Lions outscored the Mustangs to finish out the half on an 8-4 run heading into the locker room with a 41-30 advantage. Mount Ida scored 18 of their 30 first half points in the point while the visitors bench notched 13 of their 41 for the stanza.
Mount Ida cut the visitor advantage down to five through the first two minutes (17:48) of the second frame capped on a Cabral three pointer trailing 44-39.
The visitors would go ahead by nine (48-39) scoring the next two baskets finished on a Firn lay-in. Emerson's lead was short lived as they watched Mount Ida power through a 9-0 run to tie the game at 48-48 with 12:42 to go in the game.
After exchanging baskets through the next few minutes the Mustangs jumped ahead following another 9-0 run leading 61-53 fueled mostly by solid outside shooting from Jones with 6:16 remaining.
Although the visitors kept the host lead within a couple of buckets, solid shooting from the line and from the floor by Mount Ida solidified a 75-71 GNAC win.
The Mustangs will host GNAC member Johnson & Wales University on senior day Saturday afternoon with game time slated for 1:00 p.m.