AMCATS Drop Close One to Mustangs

NEWTON, Mass – Thursday evening the AMCATS travelled to Newton to take on GNAC rival, Mount Ida. Though the Mustangs jumped out to a big lead going in to the half, Anna Maria was able to climb back in to the game in the second half but, it wasn't enough as the Mustangs took the game, 83-74.

The AMCATS got another big night from sophomore forward Mike Rapoza (Charlton, Mass) who scored a career high 29 points and pulled down a career high 22 rebounds on the night, which led all scorers and rebounders and was good enough for his tenth double-double of the season. Mike shot 10-of-12 from the field and was nine-for-14 from the free throw line.  Also posting a double digit effort was former Mount Ida Mustang, junior forward Sidney Limage (Randolph, Mass) who scored 14 points. He also grabbed six rebounds against his former team. Senior guard Liam Pickett (Oxford, Mass) came off the bench to add 12 points for the AMCATS.

For the Mustangs, senior guard John Oliver (North Babylon, N.Y.) came off the bench to score 15 points to lead all Mount Ida scorers. Senior forward Kevin Conner (Mansfield, Mass) led all starters for the Mustangs with 12 points. The top rebounder for Ida, senior forward, Errald Jordine (Stamford, Conn), pulled down six boards in the victory.

The score between the Mustangs and AMCATS stayed fairly close to begin the game. Mount Ida struck first a minute in but would eventually jump out to a double-digit lead nine minutes in when Oliver hit a three-pointer to give his team a 19-8 lead. The AMCATS would only score one point in the next three minutes while the Mustangs continued to pull away as they went in to the half with an eighteen-point, 41-23, lead.

The second half began the way the first half ended, with Mount Ida continuing their scoring ways, at one point extending their lead to twenty-four points three and a half minutes in to the period. At this point the AMCATS began to turn things around as Rapoza scored four points in under a minute. The gap started to close more quickly with the Mustangs offense not able to make buckets and Anna Maria seemed to be able to score at will. With two minute remaining the 'Cats had but the deficit to five points. While the visitors got as close as three points with a minute to play they were not able to overcome the full deficit, missing foul shots towards the end of the game and sending the 'Stangs to the line where they would extend their lead back out to nine points and take the conference victory, 83-74.

The AMCATS will be back in action on Tuesday, January 16^th when they host Rivier at 5:30pm in GNAC play.

Click Here to see the full box score from tonight's game.