Pride Drops Heartbreaker to Mitchell in Closing Seconds

Mitchell College pulled out a late 72-71 victory over the Regis (Mass.) men's basketball team on Thursday night in New England Collegiate Conference action at the Yarnall Athletic Center.

Pride Drops Heartbreaker to Mitchell in Closing Seconds
February 2, 2017
NEW LONDON, Conn. – Mitchell College pulled out a late 72-71 victory over the Regis (Mass.) men's basketball team on Thursday night in New England Collegiate Conference action at the Yarnall Athletic Center.
 
After a pair of free throws by Geary McLeod (Meriden, Conn./Waterford) put the Mariners on top with 1.2 seconds remaining, the Pride got a good look at a potential game-winning shot. Chris Leak Jr. (New Haven, Conn./Hillhouse) sent a three-quarter court pass to Jaiwon Martin (Coral Springs, Fla./Coral Glades) at the wing spot, and he got off a contested three that drew iron but didn't go down.
 
The win gave Mitchell a sweep of the season series and improved its record to 4-16 overall and 4-7 in league play. McLeod and Hasani Williams (Miramar, Fla./Hallandale) each finished with 14 points to lead the Mariners while Mack Bertram-Gregory (Stockton, Calif./Tokay) and Domenico Santiago (Port St. Lucie, Fla./Port St. Lucie) added 11 points apiece.
 
Leak paced the Pride (6-15 overall, 3-9 NECC) with 24 points on 11-for-15 shooting. Sam Jean-Gilles (Melrose, Mass./Melrose) contributed 18 points, 13 rebounds and four assists while Jordan Seldon (Everett, Mass./Everett) chipped in with 10 points. 
 
The Mariners led by as many as 12 points in the first half before Regis fought its way back. Leak supplied 13 points in the stanza as the Pride knocked the margin down to two by intermission.
 
Martin opened the second half with a three to put Regis on top. The score remained tight until a 10-2 run gave the Pride a 58-50 lead with 12:04 to go. Jean-Gilles scored the final eight points of the stretch, which also included a fast-break dunk from Leak.
 
Mitchell worked back into the game over the next 5:30 and tied the score at 61-61 following a pair of free throws by McLeod with 6:36 to play. After baskets by Leak and Shaun Wingfield (Pembroke Pines, Fla./Charles W. Flanagan) provided the Pride with a four-point advantage, Mitchell responded with a layup by Williams and a three by Bertram-Gregory to seize the lead.
 
The two teams spent the final 3:42 trading blows, with the lead changing hands seven times. The Pride pulled in front 71-70 with 13 seconds left thanks to a pair of free throws by Jean-Gilles. Leak then came up with a big rebound as the Mariners missed on their ensuing possession, and he went to the line with just over two seconds remaining to try to seal the win.
 
Leak missed the front end of a one-and-one, and McLeod was fouled as he collected the rebound. He rattled home his first attempt at the line to tie the game, and after a Regis timeout he calmly swished the go-ahead freebie to put the Mariners on top for good.
 
Mitchell will next play at Southern Vermont College on Saturday, February 4 at 3 p.m. Regis returns to action at Newbury College on Saturday at 3 p.m.
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