MILTON, Mass. – Noel Hollingsworth (Salt Lake City, Utah) and Will Tashman (Atherton, Calif.) recorded double-doubles and Jamie Karraker (Morgantown, W. Va.) canned six trifectas to help the No. 10 ranked MIT men's basketball team open its season with a 71-66 win over Curry College on Tuesday night. Hollingsworth led the way for the Engineers, who won their season opener for the fourth year in a row, with 23 points.

Tech jumped out to an early 5-0 lead after a Hollingsworth jumper and a Karraker three, but Curry would respond with a 7-2 run to even things up. The score would remain close throughout most of the first half, with neither team leading by more than five during the game's first 20 minutes.

After Lambros Papalambros (Quincy, Mass.) put the Colonels ahead, 24-19, with 5:40 to go, the Cardinal and Gray ran off nine consecutive points over the next three minutes to retake the lead. A three-pointer from Sedale Jones (Pittsfield, Mass.) tied the game at 31 headed into the locker room.

The Engineers came sprinting out of the intermission, outscoring Curry, 16-4 over the first 3:24 over the period. Hollingsworth scored three straight buckets for Tech and Karraker capped the spurt with another triple, to give MIT a 47-35 advantage.

The MIT lead would swell to as many as 15 before the Colonels began to claw back into things down the stretch. Michael Connery (Narragansett, R.I.) connected on a pair of long-range shots and Jones added six points to help Curry get within four, 64-60, with 1:23 to go. However, the Cardinal and Gray was able to withstand the rally by making five-of-six free throws in the final 20 seconds.

Karraker finished with 18 points on six-for-11 shooting from long range. Hollingsworth and Tashman had 10 rebounds apiece to help MIT enjoy a 43-28 advantage on the glass. Mitchell Kates (Colts Neck, N.J.) scored nine points to go along with six boards and two assists.

Papalambros led Curry with 24 points and Jones added 22 in the loss.

The Engineers will play their home opener on Thursday, November 17, welcoming Gordon College to Rockwell Cage for a 7:00 p.m. contest. Curry will travel to Wesleyan University over the weekend for a tip-off tournament.