BOSTON, Mass. – Mount Ida College moved to 8-2 in Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) play as they beat Suffolk 75-65 for their fourth straight win on Saturday afternoon in men's basketball action at Regan Gymnasium.
Mount Ida has now posted their best record (12-5, 8-2 GNAC) since the 2009-10 season, while Suffolk falls to 4-13 (3-7 GNAC) despite 42 points from their freshman class.
Mount Ida had five players in double-figures, including a game high 21 points out of Joey DeFillippi (Bristol, Conn.), who was 8-12 from the field and 2-3 from long range.
Dennis Ross (Portland, Maine) added 13 points off of the bench, while Kevin Conner (Mansfield, Mass.), Ethan Dujon (Warwick, R.I.) and Errald Jordine (Stamford, Conn.) were also in double digits, and Jordine and Conner led the team with seven rebounds apiece.
The Mustangs heated used a 12-5 run to go out in front, 21-13, though Cameron Powers, who was responsible for 10 of the Ram's first 18 points, kept the deficit at eight.
From there, Mount Ida went ahead by as many as 12 twice in the first half and held a 38-31 lead at the break.
The first five minutes of the second stanza the Mustangs surged, outscoring the Rams, 8-5 to gain a 46-36 and force a Suffolk timeout. Out of the break Mount Ida used another stretch, this time 8-2, to go ahead 54-38 with 9:15 remaining and would extend the lead to 21 to put the game away.
Jim Djema led a trio of Rams in double digits with 19 points, shooting 7-for-13 from the floor and 4-of-8 on the long ball. He collected six rebounds and handout out two assists in a 26-minute performance.
Off the bench, Powers provided 16 points, including 10 in the first half, going 6-for-11 from the field and 2-for-5 from deep. He chipped in two takeaways including one in the final minute of action.
Austin Prevost, a rookie reserve, added 14 points on a 5-for-7 showing from the field and 4-for-6 effort at the line. He led the Rams on the glass, grabbing seven boards, six on the defensive end.
The Mustangs won the battle on the boards, 40-35.
Mount Ida's next matchup will be a rematch against rival Lasell College on Wednesday at 600 pm. Fans are also asked to bring donations as the Mustangs will observe Coaches vs Cancer and collect funds for the American Cancer Society at the game.
A mid-week matchup at Johnson & Wales is on the calendar for the Rams Wednesday, Jan. 25 at 7 p.m.