Boston, Mass. - The Mount Ida College Mustangs (15-8, 10-6 GNAC) topped the Suffolk University Rams (6-17, 2-14 GNAC), 78-71 on Saturday afternoon in Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) action. Sophomore Isiah Benjamin (Windsor, Conn.) led all scorers with 18 points as the Mustangs picked up their tenth victory of the season in league play.
The Mustangs had four players in double digits in scoring. Sophomore Keith Jones (Boston, Mass.) finished the game with 15 points as he was hot early connecting on three three-point shots in the opening minutes to get the Mustangs offense rolling. Senior Darren Martinez (Dorchester, Mass.) finished the game with 14 points, scoring 10 in the second half as Mount Ida overcame a 37-34 halftime deficit.
Freshman Colin Halpin (Melrose, Mass.) tied his season-high with 16 points, going 7-for-10 from the field as he was dominant in the post for the Rams.
The game went back and forth as they were nine lead changes in the first 35 minutes of play. Mount Ida grabbed the lead for good as Benjamin hit a pair of free throws. Both Benjamin and Martinez would go a combined 6-for-6 from the line in the game's final minute to put it out of reach for the Rams.
Freshman Karl Busch (South Kingstown, R.I.) had a strong game for Suffolk, going 4-for-5 from the field for eight points, and also blocking six shots in the game. Junior Mike Fleming (Exeter, N.H.) scored eight points, going 2-for-3 from beyond the arc, while junior Allan Ray (Lynn, Mass.) also chipped in with eight points. Freshman Mickey McEntee (South Kingstown, R.I.) also had nine points and five rebounds for the Rams.
Suffolk was able to maintain control for much of the first half pushing their lead to as big as six points,28-22, when junior Mario Massimino (East Haven, Conn.) converted on a free throw, after putting home a lay-up.
Mount Ida was able to take over the game in the second half as they out-rebounded Suffolk, 28-18 in the game's final twenty minutes and outscored Suffolk 44-34 in the period. Mount Ida held a 16-7 advantage in second change points in the second half, while also scoring 15 points on turnovers.
Both teams will be back in Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) this week. The Mustangs will host Lasell College on Tuesday at 6:00pm. The Rams will travel across the Boston Common on Tuesday to take on Emerson College at 7:30pm.