Second Half Charge Lifts Mount Ida Over AMCATS, 75-66

NEWTON, Mass. – The Anna Maria College men's basketball team fell to the Mustangs of Mount Ida College, 75-66, in Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) action on Saturday afternoon at Mount Ida Athletic Center. The AMCATS drop to 3-12 overall and 3-5 in conference play while the Mustangs improve to 10-5 overall and 6-2 in the GNAC.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

Kenneth Graham (West Haven, Conn.) led the AMCATS with 24 points on the day while freshman Mike Rapoza (Charlton, Mass.) posted a game-high 19 rebounds. Liam Pickett (Oxford, Mass.) came off the bench to add 14 points for Anna Maria. David Jean-Louis (Miramar, Fla.) and Chris Contento (Marshfield, Mass.) posted nine points apiece in the loss.

Mount Ida forward Errald Jordine scored a season-high 18 points, one shy of his career best, including ten points in the second half, and forward Kevin Conner tied his career high with 17 points.

Mount Ida shot 45.9 percent from the field (28-61) while the AMCATS shot 39.1 percent (25-64). The Mustangs collected eight baskets from three-point range to Anna Maria's five. The AMCATS led the rebounding game with 38 to Mount Ida's 35.

HOW IT HAPPENED

The Mustangs led by just a point at the half before breaking away to secure the victory over the AMCATS.

Mount Ida led by as much as seven points in the first half but Anna Maria fought back and got to within a point by the break, when freshman Bobby Perette (Marshfield, Mass.) answered a three-pointer by Mount Ida senior Ethan Dujon.

Conner hit a three-point jump shot with 9:17 to play in the second half to get the Mustangs back in front after Anna Maria had hung around long enough to grab a 58-57 lead on a layup by Perette.

From there, the Mustangs didn't trail again, ripping off an 11-0 run to extend their advantage to 68-58 with under five minutes left.

Conner hit another triple at the 3:40 mark and Chris Contento (Marshfield, Mass.), who had nine points, three assists and two steals in the game, hit one free throw to get Anna Maria as close as eight points. The AMCATS could not get any closer as the Mustangs solidified a nine point victory (75-66).

WHAT'S NEXT?

Anna Maria returns to league action at home for their next three games, starting Monday with a 3:00 pm game against Johnson & Wales.

Mount Ida will look for their second straight win at the Harry Alfond Center on Monday when they travel to Saint Joseph's College Maine for a 3:00 pm Martin Luther King Day matinee.