Monday, January 28, 2013 (Newton, Massachusetts) - Solid defense and a team-high 20 point performance from Mount Ida College men's basketball freshman forward John Fortes (New Bedford, MA/New Bedford) propelled the Mustangs to a 69-52 Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) victory over visiting St. Joseph's College (ME) Monday evening. The hosts snapped a seven game league losing streak with the win. Leading 30-27 at halftime, Mount Ida halted a usual strong offensive attack from the visitors holding the Monks to 25 points in the second stanza. The Mustangs created 21 opponent turnovers holding St. Joseph's (ME) to a 28.8 percent shooting percentage from the floor for the contest. It was the first time the Mount Ida men's basketball team defeated the Monks since the hosts joined the GNAC in 2007.
The hosts improve to an overall record of 6-14 going 2-11 in league action in an upset special against the third place Monks. St. Joe's snaps a three game GNAC winning streak falling to 12-7 for the year, 8-5 in conference play.
Along with another dazzling performance from Fortes, The Mustangs saw 14 points on 5-11 shooting from sophomore guard and transfer Aaron Kelly (Norwalk, CT/Norwalk). Freshman point guard Brandon Castro (Dorchester, MA/Arlington) saw his second start of the season with a game-high 11 assists and four steals providing vicious defense for the hosts. Freshman forward Cam Walker (New Bedford, MA/New Bedford) chipped in 13 points and six caroms respectively.
For the Monks, junior forward Nicholas Jobin (Westbrook, ME/Westbrook) notched a game-high 21 points and four rebounds while junior guard Matthew Medeiros (Westport, MA/Westport) added seven points, six assists and five rebounds.
The action was very close through the first ten minutes of the opening half with the visitors leading by a small 13-5 margin capping a very cold beginning offensively for both sides.
Two minutes later (8:15), the Mustangs took over the advantage for the second time in the contest up 16-13 following a successful lay-in by Walker.
Although St. Joe's would take over a three point lead (25-22) following a good trifecta by sophomore forward Steve Simonds (Steep Falls, ME/Bonny Eagle), the hosts would finish the half strong heading into the locker room up 30-27.
After the Monks regained the advantage early (12:24) in the opening of the second stanza, Mount Ida knotted the action (40-40) after a good lay-up by Fortes.
With a swarming defense and solid offensive play, the Mustangs powered through a 19-4 run for the next six minutes (6:43) to encompass a 59-44 lead capped on a Castro freebie.
Mount Ida made it a game-high 18 point advantage with 2:40 to go in the contest with an exclamation point dunk by Fortes going ahead 65-47. The visitors were on the ropes at this point with the Mustangs closing out the 69-52 GNAC victory.
The hosts with travel to league foe Johnson & Wales University Thursday evening with game time slated for 7:00 p.m. St. Joseph's (ME) will host Maine-Farmington Wednesday evening starting at 7:00 p.m. as well.