BOSTON, Mass. – Led by Tournament MVP Mike Mitchell, Jr. (Dorchester, Mass.) and All-Tournament selections Vinny DeLucia (Miami, Fla.) and Rahshjeem Benson (Boston, Mass.) men's basketball cruised to a 76-60 win over Trinity College (Conn.) Saturday afternoon to win the 28th Annual Harbor Invitational in the Clark Athletic Center Gymnasium.
The Beacons, who have not hoisted the championship trophy since 2005, won their annual invitational in convincing fashion. After their 42-point win over the University of New England yesterday evening, the Beacons continued their strong consistent play as they shot 46.3% from the field and 56.3% from behind the arc. With Saturday's victory UMB improved to 3-2 on the year, while the Bantams fell to 2-3 overall.
Mitchell earned the tournament's Most Outstanding Player award after dropping eight points, while also handing out six assists. DeLucia was dangerous from behind the arc finished 4-for-5 from distance and 6-for-8 from the field (17 points). Benson used his aggressive play to record the games only double-double with 14 points and 10 rebounds. The junior also handed out three assists and rejected three Bantam shots. As a team, UMB posted a combined 10 blocks to help once again fuel their defensive play.
In the first half of Saturday's contest the Beacons came out firing scoring eight of the first 10 points. Brian Clarke (Miramar, Fla.) dropped in the first two points for UMB, which was then followed-up by three-pointers from DeLucia and Carl Joseph (Brockton, Mass.).
Trinity would post a quick run of their own to tie the score for the second in the early on-goings. The two teams would remain close throughout the first 10 minutes of Saturday's contest. It was not until a huge steal by freshman Jahleel Moise (Brockton, Mass.), which was then followed-up by a huge dunk from the freshman forward that the Beacons grabbed control of the momentum.
The Bantams did manage to stay close, but it was only a matter of time before UMass Boston would seize total control of the game. After a late push by Trinity made it a slim one-point affair, UMB would got on a 9-0 run to make it 36-28.
A three from Cody Edmond (Plaquemine, La.) and a jumper from DeLucia would give the Beacons an extra push just as time expire in the opening half. UMass entered the intermission with a 45-34 lead. Edmond, who showed some serious range in Saturday's contest came-off the bench and finished with 12 points. UMass closed out the first half shooting 45.2% from the field and 54.5% from the behind the arc.
After the break UMass would once again go on a serious run extending their lead to 19 in the first four minutes, 19 seconds. That early run would be all that the Beacons would need to clinch the tournament championship as Trinity never once cut the deficit down to single-digits.
For the Bantams Shay Ajayi was named to the All-Tournament team after dropping in a team-best 15 points, while also pulling down eight boards.
Men's Basketball returns to action on Thursday when they host Suffolk University at 7 p.m.