MUSTANGS CAPTURE VICTORY IN FINAL CONTEST OF 08-09

The Mount Ida College men's basketball team captured a 79-62 victory against hosting Johnson & Wales University this past Saturday in their last regular season game of the year.  The Mustangs will not qualify for the Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) tournament finishing at 10-13 overall and 4-12 in conference play.  The Wildcats, who will return to action this Tuesday for the first round of the GNAC tournament, finish at 10-15, 9-9 in the GNAC. 

Johnson & Wales jumped out to an early lead and had a nine point advantage when a traditional three point play by junior Darren Faust (Queens, N.Y.) gave the team the 29-20 lead with 7:03 left in the first half.  Mount Ida closed out the half with a 22-8 run; including a last second shot by freshman Isiah Benjamin (Windsor, CT/The Masters School) to take the 42-37 lead into the locker room at halftime.

Mount Ida extended their lead to 10 after a lay-in by freshman Johrone Bunch (Meriden, CT/F.T. Maloney) making it 62-52 with 8:58 remaining.  The Mustangs led by as many as 21 in the second half before taking the 79-62 victory.

Mount Ida was led by freshman Jeff McNair (Brockton, MA/Brockton) with 17 points and 11 rebounds while senior Matt Bennett (Rochester, NH/Spaulding) had 19 points and five boards in the victory.