BOSTON, Mass. – The No. 9 ranked MIT Engineers took advantage of red-hot outside shooting to continue its strong start to the 2011-12 campaign in an 89-57 win at Emerson College in non-conference men's basketball action on Tuesday night. Tech knocked down 14-of-20 shots from behind the arc while shooting 62.0% from the field to improve to 6-0.
Senior Billy Bender (The Woodlands, Texas) tied a career high with 24 points, making six-of-seven threes, and grabbed seven boards. Senior Noel Hollingsworth (Salt Lake City, Utah) and junior Will Tashman (Atherton, Calif.) were also in double figures with 17 and 14 points, respectively.
Emerson (0-4) kept things close early on, tying the game at six with a layup from Drew Venter (Boston, Mass.) at the 16:!6 mark. From there, the Cardinal and Gray would go on a 20-6 run over the next 8:34, including three straight trifectas from seniors Jamie Karraker (Morgantown, W.Va.), Bender and Daniel McCue (Hampden, Maine), to lead 26-12 with under eight minutes to go in the half.
Back-to-back threes by Bender and Hollingsworth, in the final two minutes, and a Mitchell Kates (Colts Neck, N.J.) layup gave Tech a 45-24 advantaged headed into the locker room.
Karraker and Bender continued the three-point assault to open the second half and stretch the MIT lead to 51-24. The Engineers continued to pull away from there, thanks to 65.0% shooting in the second half.
Kates helped pace MIT's unselfish offensive attack, which had 25 assists on 31 baskets, as the junior had a game-high six helpers. Tashman also had five assists to go along with eight rebounds. Hollingsworth was a perfect three-for-three from long distance while Karraker connected on three-of-six trifectas.
Venter led the hosts with 14 points and Eli Kell-Abrams (Berkeley, Calif.) and Eric Wahl (Seattle, Wash.) were also in double figures with 12 points apiece.
Tech will continue its non-conference slate on Thursday, December 1 with a 7:00 p.m. game at Newbury College. Emerson will play New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) foe Babson College at home on Thursday also at 7:00 p.m.