MEN'S BASKETBALL DROPS FIFTH STRAIGHT TO FALCONS

The Mount Ida College men's basketball team dropped their fifth consecutive Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) loss to Albertus Magnus College, 77-59, this Saturday in the front end of today's double header in Newton, Massachusetts on senior day.  The Mustangs fall to 9-13 overall, 3-12 in the GNAC while the Falcons improve to 11-12, 7-9 in conference competition.

The hosts scored the first seven points of the game powering a 7-0 run following a senior Matt Bennett (Rochester, NH/Spaulding) lay-in at the 17 minute mark.  The visitors eventually took over the lead shortly after on two good free throws by freshman Andrae Beckford (Bridgeport, CT/Kolbe Cathedral) up 8-7. 

Mount Ida came storming back regaining the advantage at the eight minute mark at 19-12 on a Darren Martinez (Mattapan, MA/Ben Franklin Institute) lay-up.  They held the lead until the visitors knotted things up (21-21) on a Falcons jumper by John Donahue (Southington, CT/Southington).  

Albertus Magnus took over the game at this point going on a 9-0 run leading by 12 points at 35-23 with 2:02 to go before the break.  The Falcons eventually headed into the locker room with a 37-25 advantage.

The second half began with the Mustangs powering a 6-0 run to cut the lead in half with the Falcons up 37-31 after a Teddy Louis (Malden, MA/Malden) bank in off the glass.  The visitors held a small lead against the hosts up single digits up until the 12:18 mark.  Mount Ida tried to keep within striking distance but could not push the momentum in their favor.

The Falcons lead grew to 14 points after a technical foul on Mount Ida by Louis giving the visitors three free throws and the ball up 66-52.  Albertus Magnus made it a 16 point advantage towards the end of the contest at 73-57 after a good jumper by junior Mike Barber (West Haven, CT/Hyde Leadership).  It would become a game high 18 point lead to end the game on a lay-in by Walden St. Juste (Harford, CT/Bulkeley) with under a minute to play.  The Falcons eventually took home the 59-77 victory good for their 11 win of the season.

The Mustangs were led by freshman Johrone Bunch (Meriden, CT/F.T. Maloney) with a game high 21 points, two boards, and two assists.  Bennett added 10 points with seven rebounds but struggled turning the ball over seven times.  Senior Otis Thompson (Gardner, MA/Gardner) chipped in nine points as well.

The Falcons saw four players in double figures with St. Juste and senior Francisco Cordova (Windsor, CT/Windsor) both adding 16 points a piece and combining for 15 rebounds.  Donahue chipped in 12 points and four assists while senior Bobby Leonzo (East Haven, CT/East Haven) added 11. 

The Mustangs will head to Albertus Magnus College in New Haven, Connecticut this coming Tuesday night for more GNAC action starting at 7:00 p.m.