Men’s Basketball Sinks Mount Ida, 77-55

Paxton, Mass. – The Anna Maria College men's basketball team used a balanced scoring attack and 52 second-half points to cruise to a 77-55 Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) victory over visiting Mount Ida College at Fuller Activities Center on Saturday afternoon. With the win the AMCATS extend their regular season conference winning streak to 17 games and improve to 2-4 (1-0 GNAC) while the Mustangs dip to 2-6 (0-2 GNAC) on the year.

Anna Maria had four players in double-figures in the win. Senior Quantez Franklin (West Yarmouth, Mass.) led all scores with 18 points on 9-for-13 shooting from the field including a monster second stanza dunk. Senior Joseph Barillo (Dania Beach, Fla) added 14 points while sophomore Tyler Delorey (Worcester, Mass.) chipped in with 15 points, 3 rebounds and seven steals. Off the bench, freshman Trevon Farley (Lawrence, Mass.) contributed 10 points and five boards.

The Mustangs were led by 15 points from sophomore Cam Walker (New Bedford, Mass). Junior Treace Macklin (Brocton, Mass.) picked up 14 points while senior Kenny Jean pitched in with 8 points and 8 rebounds.

The AMCATS raced out to a 12-6 advantage following a layup by Farley and jumper by Kyle McKissick (Charlton, Mass.) 7:20 into the game. A trey by Patrick Bradanese (Billerica, Mass.) at the 9:33 mark would push the AMCATS lead to eight points, 22-14, their largest advantage of the stanza.

However, the Mustangs would battle back and outscore the AMCATS 12-3 over the next five minutes. With 4:05 showing on the clock, and in the midst of a 12-0 run, sophomore Michael Joseph (Windsor, Conn.) would notch a baseline layup to give Mt. Ida their first lead of the game 26-25. The Mustangs would hold the AMCATS scoreless over the remaining minutes in the half and post a 34-25 lead at intermission.

Anna Maria would quietly chip away at the lead and with 15:27 to play in the half would draw the ballgame even at 38-38 with a pair of Michael Gorman (Methuen, Mass.) free-throws. 

The teams would be deadlocked once again at 42-42 when Barillo would score five consecutive points for AMC with a trey from behind the arc and a fast break layup to give the AMCATS the lead for good.

The AMCATS would play terrific defense over the second half of the last frame holding the Mustangs to just eight points to sail to the 77-55 final.

Anna Maria would shoot a blistering 63% in the second half and a respectable 51% for the game while the Mustangs could only convert 39% of their shots.

The AMCATS will host GNAC foe Rivier University on Monday evening at the Fuller Center at 7pm.