The Suffolk University Men's Basketball team (9-15, 6-11 GNAC) topped the Mount Ida College Mustangs (8-15, 5-11 GNAC) by an 82-76 score on Tuesday evening in Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) action on Tuesday evening.

Junior Chris Torres (Brockton, Mass.) led all scorers wih 24 points on an 8-for-12 performance from the field, while juniors Colin Halpin (Melrose, Mass.) and Matt Pepdjonovic (Quincy, Mass.) each recorded double-doubles as the Rams improve to a 9-15 mark on the season and a 6-11 record within GNAC play.

Mount Ida finished with four players reaching double digits in points as senior Isiah Benjamin (Windsor, Conn.) recorded team-highs with 18 points and nine rebounds as the Mustangs now drop to an 8-15 overall record and 5-11 mark in GNAC play.

It was a wild back and forth affair that featured a tied score on eight different occasions and five different lead changes.

The Rams held their largest lead of the contest at nine points just three minutes into the second half as Torres connected on his lone three-pointer of the game to give Suffolk a 47-38 edge.

At the 6:45 mark senior Travis Hillery (Tyngsboro, Mass.) gave the Mustangs back the lead with a layup as part of an 11-point second half for him to give the visitors a 64-62 lead.

Halpin would answer twenty-one seconds later though as he drove to lane connecting on a layup to tie the game drawing a foul in the process. Halpin made the free-throw as he was 8-for-9 in the contest from the line and gave the Rams a one-point edge that they would not relinquish the remainder of the game.

Moments later freshman Carlos De La Cruz (Marlborough, Mass.) would sink a deep three-pointer to make it 71-67 with four minutes remaining to help give the Rams a little extra cushion in the closing minutes.

After four straight points by Torres for Suffolk, Mount Ida would answer with a pair of free-throws by Benjamin to make it a one possesion game at 77-74 with fifty-one seconds remaining.

Senior Justin Barall (East Hampton, Conn.) would seal the fate of the Mustangs however grabbing a loose ball and hitting a layup to push it back to a five-point Suffolk lead before Halpin closed it out connecting on three free-throws in the closing seconds.

Halpin finished the game with 23 points and a game-high 12 rebounds while also recording five steals in the game.

Pepdjonovic records his nation leading 20th double-double of the season in 24 games as he pulled down 11 rebounds and scored 14 points. He also had five blocked shots in the contest.

De La Cruz finished with five points for the Rams.

Hillery finished the game with 15 points for Mount Ida. Sophomore Kenny Jean (Dorchester, Mass.) and senior Keith Jones (Boston, Mass.) each scored 10 points for the Mustangs.

Suffolk held a slight edge in rebounds at 45-43, while outshooting the Mustangs from the field. Suffolk shot 46.6-percent as a team compared to Mount Ida's 37.8-percent.

Mount Ida will travel to Rivier College on Thursday evening for a 7:00pm GNAC matchup with the Raiders. The Rams will conclude the 2011-12 regular season with a conference showdown at Anna Maria College that will have playoff implications for both teams. Tipoff is scheduled for 1:00pm.