THE BASICS:

- Score: MIT 59, No. 21 WPI 55

- Records: MIT (12-13, 5-9 NEWMAC); No. 21 WPI (19-6, 10-4 NEWMAC)

- Location: Cambridge, Mass. (Rockwell Cage)

- The Lead: On Senior Day at Rockwell Cage, the MIT men's basketball team used a strong second half and 23 points from junior Ian Hinkley (Raleigh, N.C.) to pull out a 59-55 victory No. 21 ranked WPI on Saturday afternoon. Prior to the game, the Engineers recognized senior captain Christien Williams (Raleigh, N.C.) for his contributions to the program during his four-year career.

HOW IT HAPPENED: 

- Both teams held slight leads over the first 10 minutes of play as the game was then knotted at 16-16 with 9:26 on the clock following a four-point play by Hinkley. WPI went on a quick 7-0 run to stretch the advantage to 23-16 before MIT used threes from Hinkley and first-year Matas Masys (Oakbrook Terrace, Ill.) to tie the game at 29-29.

- The visitors eventually took a 31-29 edge into halftime break after Garrett Stephenson scored on a layup with 17 seconds remaining in the half. Stephenson led WPI with 14 first-half points on 7-for-10 shooting from the field. Hinkley was the top scorer for MIT in the period with 15 points and four three-pointers.

- MIT built to its largest lead of the game to that point at 38-35 with 12:46 left after a jumper by sophomore Giannis Chatziveroglou (Athens, Greece). WPI answered right back though and went back in front 45-40 at the 8:10 mark.

- The game of runs continued over the remainder of regulation as the score was tied on four occasions, including for the final time at 55-55 following two free throws by WPI's Reid Walker. Sophomore Dan Pilsbury (Millington, N.J.) knocked down two from the free throw line to go up for good at 57-55, followed by a Masys steal at the 24-second mark. First-year Kael Kordonowy (Wichita, Kan.) and sophomore Alex Cho (San Diego, Calif.) both hit late free throws to seal the four-point win.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS:

- Hinkley finished with 23 points and seven rebounds behind five three-pointers while also adding two assists, two blocks and one steal. Hinkley now has 994 career points heading into his senior season.

- Masys posted 10 points and a game-high five assists as the hosts picked up 17 assists on 20 made field goals.

- WPI outrebounded MIT by a 37-30 margin that included a 30-25 edge on the defensive glass. Stephenson led all rebounders with 11 boards to go along with 21 points to complete the double-double. Behind Stephenson's effort, WPI outscored MIT 28-18 in the paint and turned MIT's turnovers in 15 points on the other end.

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