Monday, January 28, 2013 (Newton, Massachusetts) - Solid defense and a team-high 20 point performance from Mount Ida College men's basketball freshman forward John Fortes (New Bedford, MA/New Bedford) propelled the Mustangs to a 69-52 Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) victory over visiting St. Joseph's College (ME) Monday evening snapping a seven game league losing streak for the hosts. Leading 30-27 halftime, Mount Ida halted a usual strong offensive attack from the visitors holding the Monks to 25 points in the second stanza. The Mustangs created 21 opponent turnovers holding St. Joseph's (ME) to a 28.8 percent shooting percentage from the floor for the contest.
The hosts improve to an overall record of 6-14 going 2-11 in league action in an upset special tonight's against the third place Monks. St. Joe's snaps a three game GNAC winning streak falling to 12-7 for the year, 8-5 in conference play.
Along with another dazzling performance from Fortes, The Mustangs saw 14 points on 5-11 shooting from sophomore guard and transfer Aaron Kelly (Norwalk, CT/Norwalk). Freshman point guard Brandon Castro (Dorchester, MA/Arlington) saw his second start of the season with a game-high 11 assists and four steals providing vicious defense for the hosts. Freshman forward Cam Walker (New Bedford, MA/New Bedford) chipped in 13 points and six caroms respectively.
For the Monks, junior forward Nicholas Jobin (Westbrook, ME/Westbrook) notched a game-high 21 points and four rebounds while junior guard Matthew Medeiros (Westport, MA/Westport) added seven points, six assists and five rebounds.
The action was very close through the first ten minutes of the opening half with the visitors leading by a small 13-5 margin capping a very cold beginning offensively for both sides.
Two minutes later (8:15), the Mustangs took over the advantage for the second time in the contest up 16-13 following a successful lay-in by Walker.
Although St. Joe's would take over a three point lead (25-22) following a good trifecta by sophomore forward Steve Simonds (Steep Falls, ME/Bonny Eagle), the hosts would finish the half strong heading into the locker room up 30-27.
After the Monks regained the advantage early (12:24) in the opening of the second stanza, Mount Ida knotted the action (40-40) after a good lay-up by Fortes.
With a swarming defense and solid offensive play, the Mustangs powered through a 19-4 run for the next six minutes (6:43) to encompass a 59-44 lead capped on a Castro freebie.
Mount Ida made it a game-high 18 point advantage with 2:40 to go in the contest with an exclamation point dunk by Fortes going ahead 65-47. The visitors were on the ropes at this point with the Mustangs closing out the 69-52 GNAC victory.
The hosts with travel to league foe Johnson & Wales University Thursday evening with game time slated for 7:00 p.m. St. Joseph's (ME) will host Maine-Farmington Wednesday evening starting at 7:00 p.m. as well.