MOUNT IDA MEN'S BASKETBALL
Tuesday, January 23, 2018
Athletic Center, Newton, Mass.
FINAL: MOUNT IDA 88, RIVIER 70
NEWTON, Mass. -- Sophomore Kevin Vanderhorst (Lawrence, Mass.) notched his fourth double-double of the season with 17 points and 10 rebounds to lead three players in double figures as Mount Ida used a 49-point second half outburst to post an 88-70 Great Northeast Athletic Conference men's basketball victory over Rivier Tuesday evening at the Athletic Center.
The host Mustangs (9-8, 3-5 GNAC) built a 39-36 edge at the break, and after the visiting Raiders (1-17, 0-9 GNAC) evened matters on a three-pointer by sophomore Tristian Givens (Windsor, Conn.) just 32 seconds after intermission, Mount Ida used a 19-6 run in less than seven minutes to grab a 58-45 cushion on freshman Jonathan Friberg's (North Attleboro, Mass.) lay-in with 13 minutes to play. The hosts built that margin to as much as 22 points in the final 4:42 of action, as the Mustangs shot 55 percent (17-31) from the field overall and connected for five three pointers in the second half alone.
Senior Errald Jordine (Stamford, Conn.) added 16 points and eight rebounds in the triumph for Mount Ida, which received 14 points, seven assists, five boards and three steals from fellow senior Joey DeFillippi (Bristol, Conn.). Senior John Oliver (North Babylon, N.Y.) added nine points and seven caroms for the Mustangs, who received seven points, six rebounds and four assists from senior Jayson Clark (Austin, Tex.) along with seven points from fellow senior Kevin Conner (Mansfield, Mass.). Senior Brendan Cunningham (Quincy, Mass.) chipped in with six points and a pair of steals for the winners, who shot 49 percent (32-65) from the floor and canned eight treys on the evening. Mount Ida held a 53-37 rebounding advantage and scored 15 second chance points off of 12 offensive boards.
Givens led all scorers with 21 points, six rebounds, two assists and a pair of blocks in the setback for Rivier, which received 15 points, eight boards and two assists from Glen Jones. Sophomore K.J. Bennett (Dorchester, Mass.) was also in double figures with 10 points for the Raiders, who received eight points, five rebounds and four assists from freshman Ian Wade (Windsor Locks, Conn.) along with six points from sophomore Kirk Palladino (Milford, N.H.). The visitors shot 32 percent (22-68) from the field overall and connected for 12 three-pointers in the contest, as Rivier converted 24 Mustang turnovers into 24 points.
Mount Ida hosts Johnson & Wales in a Great Northeast Athletic Conference clash on Thursday evening at the Athletic Center that tips-off at 7:00 p.m., while Rivier hosts Lasell in a GNAC outing on Thursday evening in Nashua, N.H. that also begins at 7:00 p.m.