PAXTON, Mass. – The Mitchell College men's basketball team dropped their season opener on Wednesday night, falling to Anna Maria College 80-68 at the Fuller Center.
Five AMCATS scored in double figures, with Gabe Armstead leading the way with a team-high 18 points and a game-best 11 rebounds. He was joined by Sean Zabari (14 points, nine rebounds), Ray Carter Jr. (12 points), Kennedy Minix-Rogers (11 points, nine rebounds), and Trevian Grenon (10 points), who all reached double digit points.
Mitchell senior Mikey Buscetto (Waterford, Conn.) matched Armstead with 18 points to go along with six assists, six rebounds, and three steals. Fellow seniors Alfonzo Stokes (Bloomfield, Conn.) and Jalen Benson (New London, Conn.) also reached double figures for the Mariners, pouring in 16 and 10 points respectively. Benson added five rebounds and three steals of his own.
The AMCATS maintained a narrow lead early, scoring the first six points of the game. Anna Maria then went on a 10-2 run just minutes later, which turned a 9-9 tie into a 19-11 advantage for the home squad. The Mariners battled right back and took their first lead of the half, 26-25, on a three-pointer by Buscetto with just over seven minutes on the clock. Unfortunately, this would be the last time Mitchell led, as the AMCATS closed with a strong 20-7 run, carrying a 45-33 lead into the break.
The Mariners chipped away early in the second half, trimming the deficit to seven when freshman Bishop Taylor (Aberdeen, MD) drilled a three from the wing with 16:30 remaining. The two teams continued to trade baskets through the middle of the period, yet Mitchell was not able to get closer then when Taylor made it a 49-42 game with his long range basket.
Anna Maria took what was at the time their largest lead of the evening when Christian Armstead knocked down an open three just under six minutes into the half, pushing the advantage to 13 at 57-44. The AMCATS then slowly began to pull away, increasing their lead to 15 by the half's midway point.
Mitchell's Alfonzo Stokes was able to get the vistors within single digits, finishing on a put back with just over eight minutes left to turn it into a 66-57 contest. A basket followed for Anna Maria, and the lead would stay in double figures for the remainder of the game, as the home team coasted to a 12-point victory.
The Mariners shot 38.4% from the floor as a team, 4-15 from beyond the arc, and 8-15 from the free throw line. The AMCATS enjoyed a significant advantage from the stripe, making 16 of 19 free throws, while shooting 43.3% overall and 40% from long range.
The Mariners (0-1 overall) will return to action on Saturday, November 12th, hosting SUNY Maritime at 1:00 pm in their home opener at the Yarnall Athletic Center. Anna Maria (1-0 overall). Anna Maria, meanwhile, travel to Willimantic on Friday to face Eastern Connecticut State University in their second game of the season.