January 10, 2008
Eagles Fall To Mustangs In Physical Affair, 89-82
 

Nashua – Matt Bennett (Rochester, N.H.) knocked down a game high 27 points and Thomas Belton (Springfield, Mass.) added a double double of 23 points and 11 rebounds guiding Mount Ida past host Daniel Webster, 89-82 in a physical GNAC men’s basketball matchup Thursday night.

It was the fourth straight win for the Mustangs (5-5, 2-1 GNAC), while the Eagles (3-6, 1-2 GNAC) dropped their third straight. The game, which saw nine ties and six lead changes, also marked the first ever meeting between the two programs.

Brian Inge (Fort Washington, Md.) led five Eagles in double figures with 19 points, while Tim Jackson (W. Henrietta, N.Y.) added 14, Chris Hanson (Salem, Mass.) notched 12 and Ray McKie (Queens, N.Y.) added 11.

The Eagles shot 49% in the first half and led 48-43 at the break, but costly turnovers and shooting that sank to 33% enable the Mustangs to rally. Mount Ida knocked down 56% from the field in the second.

Those numbers truly told a tale of two entirely different halves as the Eagles shot better in the first half than in the second for just the second time all season. In fact, the Eagles had been averaging over 50% in the second half throughout the first eight games, and had been shooting close to 35% in the first.

The teams were also whistled for a combined 61 fouls (including five fouled out), but both teams struggled mightily at the line going a combined 40 of 81. The Eagles hit 58% (18-31), while the Mustangs shot just 44% (22-50).

After a back and forth opening 12 minutes, the Eagles forged ahead by four on a McKie layup to make it 30-26 with 6:56 to go in the first. Up 31-29 with 5:04 to go, the Eagles put together a solid 14-3 run over the next two minutes keyed by two treys from Hanson and another McKie lay in.

But trailing 48-35 with 1:51 to go before the half, Mount Ida showed signs of things to come, closing the half on an 8-0 run including two Belton jumpers for a five point game at the break.

An Inge three opened the second half, but the Mustangs continued the charge, answering with another 7-0 run including a Bruce Cary three for a one point game.

DWC led 59-56 after an AJ Hemingway jumper and McKie freebie, but Belton and Bennett answered with back to back jumpers to put Mount Ida ahead to stay at 60-59 with 12:21 left.

The Eagles stayed close as Hemingway sank two free throws for a 70-69 game with 7:43 left, but Mount Ida followed with six quick points including an Otis Thompson jumper and Bennett layup and the Eagles would pull no closer than four the rest of the way.

The Eagles will look to get back in the win column Saturday as they travel to New Haven, Conn. to face host Albertus Magnus in a GNAC matchup starting at 1:00 p.m.