HENNIKER, N.H.—Mount Ida College had a 12-point lead in the first half, but New England College came back to lead by nine points at halftime and handed Mount Ida a 99-85 defeat in the men's basketball season opener for both teams.

MOUNT IDA LEADERS

Senior Ethan Dujon (Warwick, R.I.) scored a game-high 24 points for the Mustangs. Jayson Clark (Austin, Texas) was close behind him with 21 points, while Errald Jordine (Stamford, Conn.) finished with 15.

NEC LEADERS

The Pilgrims received a team-high 23 points from sophomore Ricky Leonard (Windsor, Conn.). First-year Izaiah Winston-Brooks (Roxbury, Mass.) recorded a double-double of 17 points and 10 rebounds.

Three other members of the Pilgrims squad scored in double-figures: Frantzy Georges (Uniondale, N.Y.) scored 16 points followed by Alonzo Cooper (Hyde Park, N.Y.) and Brenndan Rogers (Hanson, Mass.) with 11 points apiece.

HOW IT HAPPENED

The Mustangs dominated the first five minutes of play and used a three-pointer by Joey DeFillippi (Bristol, Conn.) to take an early 17-5 lead. NEC responded by holding the Mustangs scoreless for the next four-and-a-half minutes while scoring 14 points of their own to take the 19-17 lead.

The Pilgrims would continue to limit the Mustangs' scoring opportunities on the defensive end and coupling that with offensive strength. With just over seven minutes left to play in the first half, NEC held a 28-19 lead. The Pilgrims maintained the nine-point margin and led 45-36 at halftime.

The second half was riddled with fouls, which did not allow either team to build scoring runs. NEC led by as many as 14 points in the second half and never trailed, but Mount Ida did come within five points with just under two minutes left to play on another long three by DeFillippi.

The Mustangs were unable to close the gap fully though and was forced to foul for possession as the clock wound down. NEC scored seven points at the free-throw line in the final minute of the game for the 14-point victory.

BY THE NUMBERS

• NEC shot 52.7 percent from the floor (29-for-55). They also hit 12 of 19 from three-point range (63.2 percent).
• Mount Ida shot at 44.8 percent from the floor (30-67) and hit 11 of 28 (39.3 percent) from long distance.
• NEC's 99 points is the most they've scored since last December, when they suffered a 100-99 loss to Castleton in their first North Atlantic Conference (NAC).

THE SERIES

The win marks the first time in program history that the Pilgrims have topped the Mustangs. The teams have met five other times dating back to February 10, 2001, and only two of the six meetings have been in Henniker.

WHAT'S NEXT

The Pilgrims travel to Norwich on Saturday for a 1:00 p.m. non-conference game. Mount Ida heads to Westfield State on Friday for a 5:30 p.m. game.