MEN'S BASKETBALL DROPS TOUGH BATTLE TO NORWICH UNIVERSITY IN CONFERENCE MATCH-UP, Junior Michael Dunham Nets 16

Junior guard Michael Dunham (Salem, NH/Salem) led the Mustangs with 16 points in a hard fought Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) battle at Norwich University this past Thursday losing 79-72 in the final minutes of the contest. MIC would drop their overall record to 6-12, 3-8 in the GNAC while the Cadets would improve to 10-7, 6-5 in league play.

Norwich roared out of the gates, outscoring Mount Ida, 9-0, over the game’s first three minutes. The Mustangs responded with six quick points to pull to within 9-6 just moments later following a pair of three-pointers by Bruce Cary (Standish, ME/Bonny Eagle).

Norwich would go on a 9-2 run, but the Mustangs came right back with a 12-1 run of their own to take their first lead of the game at 20-19 with 9:47 to play before the break. Norwich answered Mount Ida’s surge with a 15-4 run to reclaim a 10-point lead up 34-24 at the 4:27 mark.

NU only scored one more point the rest of the first half, though, as Mount Ida outscored the Cadets, 15-1 to close the frame. Dunham nailed a three-pointer from the right wing just before time expired, and the Mustangs went to the locker room with a 39-35 advantage and the momentum.

Mount Ida scored the first six points of the second half to extend its lead to 45-35 at the 18:34 mark. Nine straight Norwich points trimmed the Mustangs’ lead to just one point (45-44) two minutes later. Mount Ida increased its lead to three points at 49-46 at 11:30, but an 8-0 NU spurt gave the Cadets a 54-49 lead.

Mount Ida refused to go away, eventually taking a 65-63 lead with 3:45 to play. Another triple jump started an 8-0 NU burst that gave the Cadets a 71-65 advantage at the 2:10 mark. Norwich converted at the free throw line down the stretch to preserve the victory.

The Cadets shot 48.0 percent from the floor for the game, while the Mustangs shot just 40.6 percent.

Mount Ida would also get good performances from junior center Otis Thompson (Gardner, MA/Gardner) would notch his fifth double-double of the season with 12 points and 10 boards. Sophomore guards Cary and Darren Martinez (Mattapan, MA/Brookline) would net a combined 28 points with 12 rebounds.

The Mustangs will have the weekend off and start action back up this coming Monday at Mount Ida Athletic Center against GNAC member Daniel Webster College for a 6:00 p.m. tip-off.