NEW LONDON, Conn. – Mitchell College junior Jaylyn Clardy (Pensacola, Fla.) poured in a career-high 34 points, including five three-pointers, to lead the Mariners to their second consecutive win on Thursday night, 95-79 over Wesleyan University in a non-conference showdown at the Yarnall Athletic Center.
The victory marked the first time that the Mariners have defeated the Cardinals in the Division III era of the program, having fallen short in their three previous meetings.
Clardy, who was 11-17 from the floor, added six rebounds and six assists for the Mariners, while senior Dontae Pollard (Fort Walton Beach, Fla.) also turned in a career game, finishing with 28 points, including four from downtown, to go along with seven rebounds. Junior Robert Zirlis (Clinton, Conn.) added 11 points, four rebounds, and four assists for Mitchell, fellow junior junior Wilton Causey (Worcester, Mass.) chipped in eight points, nine boards, and four assists. Sophomore Brandon Lee (Stockton, Cali.) added nine points, seven rebounds, four assists, and a pair of steals, as the Mariners turned in their highest scoring game of the season, shooting a season-high 55.2% (37-67) from the floor and 52.6% (10-19) from downtown.
After the two teams traded leads early, the Mariners took the lead for good with 13:35 remaining in the first half on a layup by Brandon Lee. The Cardinals remained within shouting distance, but a made basket by Robert Zirlis in the final seconds of the half sent Mitchell into the intermission with a 44-31 edge.
Wesleyan's Shane Regan opened the second frame with a three-pointer to trim the deficit to 10 points and Jackson Cormier knocked down a three of his own a few minutes later to make it 50-42 with 16:58 remaining. The Mariners then used baskets by freshman Elijah Miller (Ellington, Conn.) and Robert Zirlis to increase their lead back into double figures, but layups by Shane Regan and Sam Pohlman once again made it a nine-point game, leading to a Mitchell timeout with 14:03 on the clock.
Coming out of the timeout, Wesleyan's Jaren Langs and Nicky Johnson converted on back to back baskets to make it 57-52, but Mitchell answered with a 16-7 run over the ensuring six minutes to regain control. The closest the Cardinals came the rest of the way was when Fritz Hauser was fouled and made both shots from the free throw line with just under three minutes left, cutting the Mitchell lead to 11. Jaylyn Clardy was there to answer however, making a layup and converting on an and-one three-point play to extinguish any hopes of a Wesleyan comeback.
Shane Regan paced the Cardinals with a team-high 29 points. The junior added five rebounds, four assists, and one steal, while Jackson Cormier added 22 points and six rebounds and Hauser contributed 11 points, three rebounds, and three steals.
Along with great shooting from the floor, the Mariners were also extremely efficient from the free-throw line, connecting on 11 of 13 shots from the stripe. Mitchell was also able to outrebound Wesleyan 37-29 and forced nine turnovers.
Winners of two straight, the Mariners (5-11, 2-3) will return to conference play on Saturday, January 20th, when they play at Emmanuel College, with tipoff scheduled for 3:00 pm. The Cardinals (10-6, 2-1 NESCAC) will look to snap their two game skid when they return to the court on Saturday, January 20th, at home against No.5 Trinity College.