Story courtesy of Greg McKeever, MIT Sports Information Assistant
CAMBRIDGE, Mass. - Noel Hollingsworth (SALT LAKE CITY, Utah/Judge Memorial Catholic) scored a career-high 34 while freshman Mitchell Kates (COLTS NECK, N.J./Phillips Exeter) added eight assists as MIT downed Lesley, 88-61, in non-conference men's basketball action on Saturday afternoon. Hollingsworth also collected 10 rebounds to secure his seventh double-double of the campaign and help the Cardinal and Gray finish the first semester a perfect 11-0. Jesus Trejo (METHUEN, Mass./Methuen) led the way for the Lynx (3-8) with 15 points and 10 boards.
The teams traded buckets early, as Trejo tied things up at four with 16:30 to in the opening half. The up and down pace would become a bit erratic as the teams then went more than two minutes without scoring. Hollingsworth converted on a pass from Kates at the 14:25 mark, starting an 11-0 run over the next 2:46 to give the Engineers a lead they would not relinquish. Freshman Jimmy Burke (SCOTCH PLAINS, N.J./Seton Hall Prep) hit a pair of trifectas during the spurt. A pair of free throws by Will Tashman sent MIT into the break with a 43-27 advantage.
After trailing by as many as 20 early in the second, Jermaine Harris' (HAVERHILL, Mass./Haverhill) three-pointer with 10:06 to go brought Lesley to within 13, at 63-50. That was as close as the visitors would get the rest of the way, as the Cardinal and Gray responded with an 18-2 run to put the game out of reach. Hollingsworth picked up 10 of his 34 during that stretch, as MIT was able to break the Lesley full-court press for a few easy buckets.
Billy Bender (WOODLANDS, Texas/Woodlands College Park) contributed 12 points and a season-high 11 rebounds. Tashman had another solid outing totaling nine points and 12 caroms while senior co-captain Billy Johnson (EVERETT, Wash./Kamiak) scored 14. The Engineers held a 49-29 edge on the boards and picked up 15 second-chance points.
Bryant Itonyo (MEDFORD, Mass./Medford), 14 points, and Harris, 11 points, joined Trejo in double-figures for the Lynx.
MIT will now be off for the next two weeks, returning on December 28 to take on Division I foe, Harvard. The Cambridge neighbors have squared off 10 times, but not since 1985, with the Crimson owning a 9-1 advantage of their cross-town rivals. The game on the 28th is at Harvard and begins at 4:00 p.m. Lesley does not play again until January 9, as it begins New England Collegiate Conference (NECC) play, hosting Daniel Webster at 2:00 p.m.