NEW LONDON, Conn. – The Mitchell College men's basketball team used an offensive explosion to coast to a 119-91 victory over Lesley University on Thursday night at the Yarnall Athletic Center.
Mitchell won its fourth straight game to improve to 9-8 on the season. The Mariners were firing on all cylinders with the ball, notching season highs in points, field goals (49), field goal percentage (.636) and assists (40). Mikey Buscetto served as the catalyst with 20 assists in 28 minutes of work, breaking the school's Division III single game record for assists.
Five Mitchell players scored in double digits on the night, led by 20 points apiece from Alfonzo Stokes and Robert Zirlis. Jalen Benson added 14 points and six assists while Hunter Baillargeon came off the bench to chip in 13 points and three helpers. Jacob Narvaez rounded out the group with 10 points.
Buscetto, who finished with eight points, got the Mariners off to a roaring start. He dished out his 10th assist by the 8:34 mark of the first half and had 14 by intermission. He eclipsed the school record in the second half—formerly held by Alan Morgan '18, who had 17 in 2018-19—and came out of the game with nine minutes remaining. The 20 assists are also the most in a Division III game this season.
Mitchell shot 66 percent in the first half en route to a 67-48 lead at the break. Zirlis scored 18 in the stanza to lead all scorers.
The Mariners emptied the bench in the second half and got contributions from all. Jabari Jones racked up a quick nine points that included a pair of dunks, and Samuel Jackson drained a pair of three-pointers to join Ahmani Browne with six points.
Lesley (2-11 overall) was paced by 22 points from Gabe McCrary.
Thursday's game was the first of three regular season meetings between the Mariners and Lynx. Unlike the final two games, it does not count toward the New England Collegiate Conference standings.
Mitchell was scheduled to host Eastern Nazarene College on Saturday, but that game has been postponed due to weather. The Mariners are next slated to play at Lesley on Wednesday, February 2 at 7 p.m.