LEICESTER, Mass. – Becker College defeated Mitchell College 80-75 in the opening round of New England Collegiate Conference men's basketball tournament Tuesday evening. The win ends the Mariners season with a record of 12-13 while the Hawks advance with a record of 16-10.
Becker opened the game on a 7-0 run, which was capped off by a Scott Dulaire (Bloomfield, Conn.) layup. After Mitchell called a timeout, the Mariners responded with 6-0 straight points, including a three point play on a layup by Parris Hill (Stockton, Calif.).
With the Hawks clinging to a 12-10 lead, Joshua Ford (Jersey City, N.J.) nailed a jumper to tie game with 13:07 remaining in the first half. Becker refused to give up the lead, scoring the next five points, three coming on a Rashuan Liggon (Elizabeth, N.J.) old fashion three pointer.
The Mariners tied the game for the second time in the half when Wyatt Springer (Port Saint Lucie, Fla.) came off the bench to hit a three to make the score 23-23 with 7:55 on the clock. After the teams exchanged layups, a David Maturah (Windsor Locks, Conn.) dunk and a Donovin Ford-Hayes three put the Hawks in front 30-25. Becker went on a 7-2 to take their largest lead of the first half with 2:31 remaining.
Mitchell pulled within six with a layup by Parris Hill and a pair of free-throws from Frank Martin (Port Saint Lucie, Fla.), but Becker closed out the first half with four straight points from the charity stripe to take a 41-31 lead into the locker room.
The Hawks opening the second half with a Scott Dulaire crowd pleasing dunk which proved to be their largest lead of the game at 43-31.
With Becker holding a 59-52 advantage, Mitchell erupted on 9-0 run which was capped off by a Devonta Mosley (Gainesville, Fla.) put backer. The two teams exchanged the lead five different times over the next two minutes. A Donovin Ford-Hayes three and a pair of Scott Dulaire free-throws gave Becker a 69-65 advantage with 6:15 remaining in regulation.
After a Parris Hill put the Mariners within striking distance by hitting both his free-throws with 1:55 remaining, Donavan McClean stole the Hawks inbound attempt, scoring a quick layup to tie the game at 75-75.
On the Hawks net possession, Kyle Credle (Brooklyn, N.Y.) drove to the basketball for a layup to give the hosts a 77-75 lead. Donavan McClean just missed a game tying jumper with 46 seconds remaining and Kyle Credle clinched the Hawks victory with a three pointer with eight second left in regulation.
Scott Dulaire paced the Hawks with a game-high 23 points and 15 rebounds to earn a double-double. David Maturah was a rebound shy of a double-double, finishing 16 points and nine boards. Donovin Ford-Hayes chipped in with 12 points while Rashuan Liggon rounded out the Hawks starters in double figures with 11 points. Kyle Credle ended his day with ten points while Jessy Michaud (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.) dished out a game-high 11 assists.
Donavan McClean led Mitchell with 20 points. Joshua Ford finished his brilliant career with 17 points and seven rebounds. With 11:35 remaining in the second half, senior Parris Hill scored a layup while being fouled. Hill's free-throw marked his 1,000th point. Hill finished his career with a double-double, tallying 16 points and a team-best ten rebounds. Devonta Mosley helped keep the Marniers in the game with eight points off the bench in the second half.
Becker will return to action on Friday, February 27 when they travel to Southern Vermont College for the semifinals of the NECC Tournament at 6:00 p.m.