QUINCY, Mass. – The Mitchell College men's basketball team wrapped up regular season play with an 88-77 victory over Eastern Nazarene College on Monday afternoon in a New England Collegiate Conference clash at the Lahue Athletic Center.
The Mariners, who closed out the regular season with four straight wins, improved to 15-10 overall and 4-2 in the league. Mitchell finished in a three-way tie for the NECC's best record and will be the second seed in the NECC Championship.
Alfonzo Stokes netted a game-high 30 points to lead four Mariners in double figures, notching his second 30-point game of the season. He shot 9-for-16 from the floor and 10-for-12 at the line while adding eight rebounds, four assists and three steals.
Wilton Causey provided a scoring boost off the bench, finishing with a season-high 19 points on 6-for-8 shooting. Ahmani Browne chipped in 13 points while Mikey Buscetto had 10 points and six assists.
Bernie McGuinness led Eastern Nazarene (13-11 overall, 4-2 NECC) with 19 points.
The first half was nip and tuck until an 8-0 Mitchell run gave the visitors a 24-18 cushion midway through the stanza. The Lions responded with 10 straight points—eight of which came from McGuinness—to retake the lead.
Mitchell led by one in the closing seconds of the half when Stokes was fouled while attempting a three. He made two of three at the line to give the Mariners a 41-38 lead at the break.
ENC tied the game twice in the second half but never led, as the Mariners always had an answer. Jalen Benson responded the first time with a three-pointer to put Mitchell in front, and Causey broke the second tie with a pair of free throws.
Mitchell led by four with 7:27 remaining before pulling away behind a 16-8 spurt. Causey accounted for eight points during the stretch, which was capped by a tip-in and free throw by Stokes that gave the Mariners their biggest lead at 80-68 with 3:08 to play.
Mitchell went 6-for-6 from the charity stripe in the final 1:25 to seal the victory. The Mariners shot a season-high 86 percent from the line and sank 18 of 21 attempts.
The Mariners will host third-seeded New England College in the semifinals of the 2022 NECC Championship on Wednesday, February 23 at 6 p.m.