Men's Basketball Outruns Mount Ida, 87-78

PAXTON, Mass.—The Anna Maria College men's basketball team overcame a first half deficit to down the Mustangs of Mount Ida College 87-78 on Monday evening in Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) action.

With the win, Anna Maria improves to 9-7 overall and 5-4 in GNAC play, while the loss drops Mount Ida to 8-8 overall and 4-5 in league action.

THE SERIES

The AMCATS now hold a 10-3 all-time record against the Mustangs dating back to 1999. Anna Maria is on a seven-game winning streak and is 8-1 in GNAC action.

AMCAT LEADERS

Four different members of the Anna Maria squad scored in double-figures, led by senior captain Tyler Delorey (Worcester, Mass.) with 21 points. Fellow senior captain Patrick Bradanese (Billerica, Mass.) scored 19 points, followed by junior David Jean-Louis (Miramar, Fla.) with 13 points. Senior Kyle McKissick (Charlton, Mass.) scored 11 points and totaled a team-leading eight rebounds.

MOUNT IDA LEADERS

The Mustangs also had four scorers in double-figures and were led by Brendan Cunningham (Quincy, Mass.) with 17 points. Jayson Clark (Austin, Texas) finished with 15 points, while Joey DeFillippi (Bristol, Conn.) and John Oliver (North Babylon, N.Y.) checked in with 13 and 12 points, respectively.

HOW IT HAPPENED

The first half saw eight lead changes and seven tied scores as neither team was able to build a comfortable advantage. Mount Ida was slightly more successful from the floor as they hit 14 field goals to Anna Maria's 13, but the biggest scoring advantage in the first half came at the free-throw line, where the Mustangs scored six of eight while The AMCATS were 2-for-3. Mount Ida would hold a five-point advantage, 37-32, at halftime.

The AMCATS were firing on all cylinders in the second half as they shot 21.7 percent better in the second half. Anna Maria used the first part of the second half to chip away at Mount Ida's lead and eventually took control for good at 49-47 on a jump shot by Delorey with 11:07 left to play. At the 9:40 mark Anna Maria began a 6-0 run which opened a nine-point gap, 62-53.

The Mustangs were not out however, as they responded with a run of their own to tie the score at 66-66 with 5:18 to play. Anna Maria would hold Mount Ida at 66 points for the next two minutes, building a 74-68 lead before the Mustangs would score again. Anna Maria held on for the final two-and-a-half minutes and used some late free-throws to take the 87-78 victory.

FINAL COMPARISONS

Anna Maria shot at 47.8 percent on the day (33-69) while Mount Ida managed a 42.9 percent effort (27-63). The AMACTS held a 19-10 advantage in points off turnovers, a 15-6 edge in second-chance points, and a 36-32 advantage in points in the paint. Mount Ida held a 27-17 edge in bench points.

Anna Maria also led in rebounds, 39-34.

WHAT'S NEXT

The AMCATS travel to Suffolk on Saturday for a 3:15 p.m. tip-off. Mount Ida hosts Rivier on Saturday at 3:00 p.m.