MOUNT IDA MEN'S BASKETBALL
Thursday, December 7, 2017
Lancer Gymnasium, Worcester, Mass.
FINAL: MOUNT IDA 109, WORCESTER STATE 93
WORCESTER, Mass. -- Sophomore Kevin Vanderhorst (Lawrence, Mass.) posted a double-double effort of 22 points, 12 rebounds, three assists and a pair of steals to lead seven players in double figures as Mount Ida extended its winning streak to five straight with a 109-93 non-league college men's basketball victory over Worcester State Thursday evening at Lancer Gymnasium.
The visiting Mustangs (6-2), who eclipsed the 100-point barrier for the third straight contest, erased an eight-point first half deficit and took a 39-38 lead with 3:54 to play before intermission on a pair of free throws by senior John Oliver (North Babylon, N.Y.), but the host Lancers (1-9) regained a one-point cushion 50 seconds later on a lay-in by sophomore Cal Howes (Maynard, Mass.). Mount Ida scored 11 of the final 18 points of the half to take a 52-49 advantage at the break, and after Worcester State closed to within one on sophomore Shaun McCarthy's (Oxford, Mass.) lay-in to open the second stanza, the Mustangs used an 8-0 run that was sparked by a pair of three-pointers from senior Jayson Clark (Austin, Tex.) to grab a nine-point (60-51) edge. The hosts closed back to within six on a Howes three-pointer, but the visitors took control of the contest with a 21-8 run over a six-minute span to take an 81-62 lead on Vanderhorst's lay-in with 11:47 remaining. Mount Ida extended that margin to 24 points (94-70) on senior Kevin Conner's (Mansfield, Mass.) three-pointer with 7:41 to play, as 11 of 15 Mustangs scored at least two points in the triumph.
Senior Errald Jordine (Stamford, Conn.) added 16 points, five steals, four rebounds and four assists in the win for the visitors, who received 15 points, six assists, five boards and five steals from senior Joey DeFillippi (Bristol, Conn.). Freshman Jonathan Friberg (North Attleboro, Mass.) collected 13 points and four caroms for Mount Ida, which received 11 points each and a combined seven rebounds from Conner and Oliver. Clark chipped in with 10 points for the Mustangs, who also received five points, five rebounds and a pair of assists from senior Brendan Cunningham (Quincy, Mass.). The visitors shot 44 percent (37-83) from the field overall and made two more free throws (27) than the Lancers attempted on the night, as Mount Ida held a 48-33 rebounding advantage and converted 20 offensive boards into 30 second chance points while limiting the hosts to just one. The Mustangs also recorded 16 steals and turned 25 Worcester State turnovers into 30 points in the first meeting between the two teams in 13 years.
Howes led four Lancers in double figures with 18 points, two assists and a pair of steals, while sophomore Will Watkins Jr. (Souithbridge, Mass.) added 16 points, seven rebounds and a pair of assists for the hosts. McCarthy scored 13 points in the setback for Worcester State, which received 11 points off the bench from freshman Manny Green (Boston, Mass.). Freshman Emeka Eguatu (Worcester, Mass.) grabbed six boards for the Lancers, who shot 58 percent (37-64) from the floor overall, including a 61 percent effort (20-33) in the opening 20 minutes of play.
Mount Ida heads into Boston on Saturday afternoon to square off with Wentworth in a non-league outing that tips-off at 3:00 p.m., while Worcester State travels to Newport, R.I. on Saturday afternoon to take on Salve Regina in a non-league clash that begins at 1:00 p.m.