NEWTON, Mass. – Lesley University saw their five game winning streak come to an end tonight, as host Mount Ida College topped the Lynx 87-77 in non-conference action tonight at the Mt. Ida Athletic Center.
Trailing by 12 with just over two minutes to play, Lesley sophomore Xeo Golding (Windermere, Fla.) knocked down a pair of three's to cut the deficit down to single-digits, but the late push was not enough as the Lynx were hold scoreless in the final 1:39 while the Mustangs knocked down four free throws down the stretch to seal the victory.
Lesley came storming out of the gates forcing a pair of Mustang turnovers and connecting on their first four shots, including treys from junior Will Gibson (Melbourne, Fla.) and senior Devon Mayo (Newport News, Va.), to open up a 10-0 lead just 1:49 into play.
After a Mt. Ida timeout, the Mustangs regained their football and answered back with a 10-2 spurt over the next four minutes, capped by a layup from junior Errald Jordine (Stamford, Conn.), to cut the deficit to two, 12-10.
Later in the half with the Lynx leading 24-21, a three from Mustang junior Joey DeFillippi (Bristol, Conn.) sparked a 13-0 run from the hosts to stake a 34-24 advantage.
Another DeFillipi trey would give the Mustangs their biggest lead of the half, 39-28, with 3:05 left before halftime. The game of runs would continue, however, as the Lynx would score the final nine points of the half to head into halftime trailing by just two.
The game would remain tight through the first ten minutes of the second half before back-to-back Mustang three's from junior Brendan Cunningham (Quincy, Mass.) and senior Ethan Dujon (Warwick, R.I.) ignited a 13-2 streak that turned a three-point lead quickly into a 14-point edge in favor of the hosts, 72-58.
Lesley was unable to muster another run as they saw their five-game win streak snapped.
Golding led the Lynx offense with a 20 point effort to go with three boards while Mayo added 19 points, five rebounds, and three assists. Fellow senior Pierre St. Simon (Farmingdale, N.Y.) finished with 14 points, a team-high seven rebounds, two steals, and a pair of blocks and junior Marquise Johnson (Hampton, Va.) came off the bench for 11 points, five caroms, two assists, and two steals.
Dujon posted a double-double for the hosts with game-highs of 23 points and ten boards while DeFillippi went a perfect 4-of-4 from downtown on his way to 18 points. Junior Jayson Clark (Austin, Texas) added 11 points and a game-best eight assists.
Lesley will look to get back in the win column and aim to stay undefeated in New England Collegiate Conference play on Saturday when they return home and host Becker College at 7:00p on Saturday. Mt. Ida will also be back in action on Saturday when they battle Norwich University at 3:00p.