Tuesday, February 15, 2012 (Newton, Massachusetts) - The Mount Ida College men's basketball team dropped their second consecutive loss Tuesday evening at Suffolk University falling 82-76 in a play-off implicated contest in Boston, Massachusetts. Mount Ida saw four players in double digit point totals led by senior guard and captain Isiah Benjmain (Windsor, CT/The Masters School) with 18 points and nine rebounds playing all 40 minutes.
The Mustangs struggled from downtown converting only two out of 21 attempts on the night for fewer than 10 percent and only 57 percent from the line as well.
Mount Ida falls to an overall record of 8-15 slumping to 5-11 in league action with two very important GNAC contests to finish the year that will ultimately show their post-season fate.
Along with a solid offensive performance from Benjamin, Mount Ida saw 15 points and eight caroms from senior forward Travis Hillery (Tyngsboro, MA/Central Catholic). Senior Keith Jones (Boston, MA/Lake Brantley (FL)/Massachusetts Bay Community College) and sophomore Kenny Jean (Dorchester, MA/Brighton) added 10 apiece respectively.
Suffolk junior Chris Torres (Brockton, MA) led all scorers with 24 points on an 8-for-12 performance from the field, while juniors Colin Halpin (Melrose, MA) and Matt Pepdjonovic (Quincy, MA) each recorded double-doubles as the Rams improve to a 9-15 mark on the season and a 6-11 record within GNAC play.
It was a wild back and forth affair that featured a tied score on eight different occasions and five different lead changes.
The Rams held their largest lead of the contest at nine points just three minutes into the second half as Torres connected on his lone three-pointer of the game to give Suffolk a 47-38 edge.
At the 6:45 mark Hillery gave the Mustangs back the lead with a layup as part of an 11-point second half for him to give the visitors a 64-62 lead.
Halpin would answer twenty-one seconds later though as he drove to lane connecting on a layup to tie the game drawing a foul in the process. Halpin made the free-throw as he was 8-for-9 in the contest from the line and gave the Rams a one-point edge that they would not relinquish the remainder of the game.
Moment's later freshman Carlos De La Cruz (Marlborough, MA) would sink a deep three-pointer to make it 71-67 with four minutes remaining to help give the Rams a little extra cushion in the closing minutes.
After four straight points by Torres for Suffolk, Mount Ida would answer with a pair of free-throws by Benjamin to make it a one possession game at 77-74 with fifty-one seconds remaining.
Senior Justin Barall (East Hampton, CT) would seal the fate of the Mustangs however grabbing a loose ball and hitting a layup to push it back to a five-point Suffolk lead before Halpin closed it out connecting on three free-throws in the closing seconds.
Halpin finished the game with 23 points and a game-high 12 rebounds while also recording five steals in the game.
Pepdjonovic records his nation leading 20th double-double of the season in 24 games as he pulled down 11 rebounds and scored 14 points. He also had five blocked shots in the contest.
Suffolk held a slight edge in rebounds at 45-43, while outshooting the Mustangs from the field. Suffolk shot 46.6-percent as a team compared to Mount Ida's 37.8-percent.
Mount Ida will travel to Rivier College on Thursday evening for a 7:00pm GNAC matchup with the Raiders.