Saturday, December 3, 2011(Newton, Massachusetts) - With two seconds to go in the contest, visiting Lasell College junior guard Sean Bertanza (Seymore, CT/Trinity Pawling) sunk a three point shot to hand hosting Mount Ida College men's basketball team their first Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) loss of the season falling 85-82 Saturday afternoon in Newton, Massachusetts.
The Mustangs held a six point (39-33) halftime advantage over their rivals. Mount Ida would turn the lead over with 11 minutes to go in the second half and were unable to recover in a game that was tied 13 times. The hosts drop the league opener falling to an overall record of 3-2, 0-1 in GNAC play.
The Lasers improve to 2-5 for the year and start perfect in conference play at 1-0 behind an outstanding individual performance from Bertanza who also dropped in a game-high 34 points going 11-16 from the floor and 6 of 8 from downtown.
In a battle for the ages in front of packed house, the Mustangs saw all five starters in double figures led by senior forward Travis Hillery (Tyngsboro, MA/Central Catholic) who registered a double-double adding 17 points and 11 rebounds. Senior guard Keith Jones (Boston, MA/Lake Brantley (FL)/Mass. Bay C.C.) added 20 points and four assists as well. Senior captain Joe Cabral (Walpole, MA/Walpole) had another impressive outing adding 13 points and seven rebounds going 5-8 from the floor.
Mount Ida guard Isiah Benjamin (Windsor, CT/The Masters School) seemed to be singled out by the officials getting in foul trouble early in the contest and did not play much in the second half adding to the Mustangs difficulties on the day. Junior center Jeffrey McNair (Brockton, MA/Brockton) added 10 points and eight boards respectively.
Along with a lights out day from Bertanza, Lasell was also led by senior forward Javon Williams (Mattapan, MA/Cathedral) with 26 points and 12 caroms. Williams was outstanding down low going 10-13 from the floor along with six assists.
Mount Ida led through the first seven minutes of the contest, up by as many as nine three times, finalizing with 13:03 remaining following a successful lay-in by Benjamin (17-8).
The Lasers countered with a 14-4 run to knot the game at 21-21 with 9:39 to go in the half after two good free throws from Bertanza.
The action went back and fourth for the next handful of possessions on each side with no more than three points separating the score. The Mustangs stymied the Lasers for the next two and a half minutes putting together a 10-0 run to lead 37-29 with 2:09 to go before the break capped on a Jones lay-in
Mount Ida would eventually head into the locker room with a 39-33 lead along with a ton of momentum.
The visitors chipped away through the opening three minutes (17:49) of the second half to climb back into the game knotting the score at 43-43 with all the offense coming from Bertanza and Williams.
The contest would continue to go back and forth featuring five lead changes and six ties through the next ten minutes of play with the score becoming deadlocked at 65-65 with 7:19 to go in the game.
Immediately following the close action, the Lasers put together a small 7-0 run, again led by Bertanza and Williams, to lead 72-65 with five and a half minutes remaining.
Mount Ida came roaring back to tie the score twice through the next two minutes after some very solid free throw shooting from Benjamin and freshman Jaiquan Wynter (Hartford, CT/Hartford Public) down one at 76-75.
The action was very close with the visitors maintaining a small advantage through the next two and half minutes up 82-78 with 38 ticks to go in the contest.
Mount Ida sunk the next two baskets, one on a jumper from Jones and another in the lane by Benjamin following a Laser turnover, to knot the score at 82-82 with seven seconds left.
The Lasers brought the ball half way up the floor and called timeout right near their bench setting Lasell up at half court with two seconds to go. The timeout was called during a bobbled possession by the visitors that could have possibly been whistled for a travel.
The inbounds pass by Williams fed Bertanza right at the top of the key who made one fake and launched an off balanced shot that dropped in for the 85-82 lead. It was all by over with only four tenths of a second to go in the game. The Mustangs attempted a desperation full court pass but it was knocked away to solidify the loss.
Lasell was impressive in the second half shooting 63 percent from the floor and 75 percent from downtown. The Mustangs had their chances in the second half but were unable to convert struggling from the line in the second stanza at 63 percent. Mount Ida led on the board winning the battle 39-31.
The Mustangs will travel to Fitchburg State University in a non-league bid this coming Tuesday with tip-off coming at 5:30 p.m. The Lasers will also hit the road for their second GNAC match-up of the season at St. Joseph's College (ME) Thursday evening with game time slated for 7:00 p.m.