Williams’ Twenty-Nine Points Leads Wildcats Over Mustangs

More news about: Mount Ida

NEWTON, Mass. – Freshman Anthony Williams (White Plains, N.Y.) scored 29 points and Wheelock came back after losing a first half lead to beat Mount Ida College 71-60 in non-conference men's basketball on Thursday night at Mount Ida Athletic Center.

Mount Ida (4-12) grabbed a slim lead just before halftime, but held it until just the 13:12 mark of the second half and dropped their fifth straight game, despite 18 points from junior Treace Macklin (Brockton, Mass.).

Wiliams, who leads the Wildcats in scoring, averaging 15.9 points per game, doubled that output to help Wheelock earn their first win of the season (1-13).

He was joined in the effort by fellow first year Derek Fournier (Johnston, R.I.), who netted 16 of his 19 points in the second half, including hitting four of his five three-pointers after the break.

Wheelock led by as many as five points in the first half, but Mount Ida kept play close and closed the half on an 8-2 run to lead 36-34, with Macklin scoring the last four points.

Mount Ida senior Kenny Jean (Dorchester, Mass.), who had eight points and a game-high 11 rebounds, extended the lead to 42-36 with a layup, but Nicholas Fenton (East Hartford, Conn.) made a layup and Fournier hit his first three-pointer of the half before senior Andrew Kirkman (Dartmouth, Mass.) put the Wildcats in front 43-42.

Fenton dished out seven assists to lead all players, though his effort was nearly matched by Mount Ida's freshman Nathan Bueno (Methuen, Mass.), who had six helpers to go with ten points and two steals.

By the mid-point of the second half, a 16-2 run that included three three-pointers by Fournier and one by Joseph Dionisio (Rowland Heights, Calif.) had put Wheelock up by eight points.

A Macklin layup cut the lead to three points, 54-51 and the teams traded free throws before Williams, Fournier and Fenton all hit shots, then made their own free-throws down the stretch to ice the win for the Wildcats.

Ethan Dujon (Warwick, R.I.) poured in ten points for Mount Ida and grabbed six rebounds, while Macklin had seven boards, helping Mount Ida to an overwhelming 49-29 edge on the glass.

Fenton added nine points and five steals, while Dionisio scored eight points and dished out two assists.

Mount Ida returns to Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) play on Saturday when they welcome in Anna Maria at 3:00 pm as part of a men's and women's doubleheader, with the women hosting Emmanuel at 1:00.

Wheelock will be on their home court at the same time as the Mustang men on Saturday, entertaining New England Collegiate Conference (NECC) foe Daniel Webster.