NEWTON, Mass. - The Mount Ida College men's basketball team used a high octane offense to earn a 98-87 victory over Lesley University this evening at the Mount Ida Athletic Center. Four starters recorded double-digit scoring efforts, as the Mustangs tallied their first North Atlantic Conference triumph of the 2006-07 campaign.
Mount Ida made six three-pointers (6-15) and shot a sizzling 53.5% (38-71) from the floor. Senior Doug Williams (Ellicot City, Md./St. Mary's) matched a career-high with 31 points on 13-of-22 shooting from the field. The forward came up with a team-high 11 rebounds to complete his second double-double of the year and fifth of his career.
The Mustangs also received a solid performance from classmate Andreas Vasiliu (Newton, Mass./Newton North), who recorded 18 points, eight boards and five assists from the point guard position. Freshman forward Mario Montes (Randolph, Mass./Blue Hills) collected 21 points, nine rebounds, five steals and four helpers, while sophomore Otis Thompson (Gardner, Mass./Gardner) chipped in with 13 points and eight caroms.
Lesley was paced by junior Joseph Chatman (Boston, Mass.), who registered 27 points, six assists five rebounds and a pair of steals. The guard connected on 9-of-18 shots, including 3-of-6 from beyond the arc. He also netted all six of his free-throw attempts. Junior forward Mark Stevens (Las Vegas, Nev.) knocked down four treys en route to scoring 22 points off the bench. The Lynx also received a boost from sophomore center Malcolm Andrews (Medford, Mass.), who pulled down a game-best 14 boards.
Mount Ida scored the game's first seven points and took a 49-31 edge into the locker room. The Mustangs maintained a comfortable edge throughout much of the second half. They led by 20 (74-54) eight minutes into the second frame, but Lesley used an 11-3 run to slice the deficit to 12 points (77-65) with just over nine minutes remaining in regulation.
The hosts responded by scoring the contest's next seven points to expand their lead to 19 points (84-65) at the 8:01 mark of the second half. Williams put the finishing touches on the run with a thunderous dunk.
A lay up by Chatman brought the Lynx to within seven points (94-87) with 22 seconds on the clock, but it was not enough, as sophomore guard Gino DiPietro (Westbrook, Maine/Westbrook) converted a pair of free-throws on the Mustangs ensuing possession and Williams threw down his third slam of the game to put the exclamation point on things in the waning seconds.
Mount Ida (3-6, 1-2 NAC) wraps up its fall slate at Rivier College on Thursday. The non-conference clash is scheduled to tip-off at 5:30 p.m. Lesley (3-4, 1-2 NAC) will host Johnson State College for a league game on Friday at 8:30 p.m.