MEN'S BASKETBALL STUNS WILDCATS IN 78-76 GNAC VICTORY

Mount Ida College sophomore Keith Jones (Boston, MA/Cathedral) scored a game high 27 points with six rebounds leading the Mustangs to a 78-76 Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) victory over hosting Johnson & Wales University in Providence, Rhode Island this past Saturday.  Mount Ida improves to 7-3 overall and 2-1 in GNAC play good for third place in the conference standings.  The Wildcats fall to 5-6 on the year, 2-2 in the GNAC.

Alongside the solid performance of Jones, sophomore Travis Hillery (Tyngsboro, MA/Central Catholic) added a double-double with 21 with points and 11 rebounds.  Sophomore Isiah Benjamin (Windsor, CT/the Masters School) and senior Darren Martinez (Dorchester, MA/Brookline) each had 11 points in the win for the Mustangs.

Johnson & Wales was led by sophomore Lamonte Thomas (Providence, R.I.) who recorded a double-double with 16 points and 10 assists.  Freshman Matt Williams (Mount Kisco, N.Y.) notched a team-high 20 points and added six rebounds and two assists for the Wildcats.

Johnson & Wales jumped out to the early lead, going ahead 17-6 on a jumper by senior Paul Nicholson (Halifax, N.C.) with 13:59 left in the first half.  Mount Ida climbed back throughout the first half and cut the lead to 34-31 on a free throw by Hillery with 2:02 on the clock.  Johnson & Wales would take the 39-31 lead into the locker room at halftime.

Mount Ida opened the second half with an 11-2 run, capped by a pair of free throws to take the 42-41 lead with 16:11 left on the clock.  The Mustangs built on their lead and held the 55-47 advantage after two from the charity stripe by Hillery with 11:27 left.  Johnson & Wales chipped away at the lead and closed the gap to 75-74 on two free throws by junior Louis Fererras (Providence, R.I.) with just 1:20 remaining. 

A layup by Hillery pushed Mount Ida's lead to 77-74 with just over a minute to play, but JWU once again responded when a layup by junior Justin Adams (Providence, R.I.) cut the lead to 77-76.  A free throw by senior Martinez put the visiting Mustangs up 78-76 with: 18 on the clock.  JWU would have one last chance; however Thomas couldn't convert a free throw as Mount Ida closed out the 78-76 victory.

The Mustangs return to action this coming Saturday hosting another GNAC contest against visiting Suffolk University in the back end of a double header with the women's team starting at 3:00 p.m.