BIDDEFORD, Maine – The Regis College men's basketball team took the early lead, but could not hold onto it as Mitchell College pulled away in the second half for a 95-79 victory Sunday afternoon in the consolation game of the Hampton Inn Jim Beaudry Classic, hosted by the University of New England at the Harold Alfond Forum.
Jalil Wilkerson (New Haven, Conn.) shot 7-of-13 from the field as he scored a career-high 19 points to go along with four rebounds, two assists, and two steals. For the second straight day, Marc Trinidad (Bronx, N.Y.), named to the All-Tournament Team, notched a double-double, finishing with 14 points, 13 rebounds, three steals, and two blocked shots, and Dimitri Rosa (Tiverton, R.I.) hit four three-pointers to end up with 12 points.
Regis raced out to an 11-2 lead on consecutive three-pointers by Devante Thompson (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.), Wilkerson, and Rosa, and then a three-pointer by Jalen Watson (Woonsocket, R.I.) extended the Pride lead to 18-4. The Mariners closed to within five at 20-15 thanks to eight straight points, led by Dra Harrison with five points.
The Mariners would eventually take a 33-32 lead on eight unanswered points, including six points from Hasani Williams. After a three-pointer by Elijah Baidoo allowed Mitchell to retake the lead at 40-39, Regis scored five straight points, featuring a Rosa three-pointer, as the Pride went into halftime with a 44-42 advantage.
Mitchell (1-1) scored six straight points to open the second half, but a three-pointer by Rosa and two free throws from Trinidad pulled Regis into a 50-50 tie. After Matt Finke and Rosa traded three-pointers, the Mariners scored the next seven points, including a traditional three-point play from Williams, to take the lead for good.
Justin Evelyn (Uniondale, N.Y.) brought the Pride within two points twice, first with a three-pointer and then on two made free throws, but the Mariners would put together a 9-2 run to once again increase their lead. Regis never rebounded as Mitchell eventually extended its lead into double digits on its way to the victory.
For Mitchell, Williams shot 14-of-23 from the field and 8-of-10 from the free throw line as he finished with 36 points and nine rebounds. Jacob Tully scored 15 points, Brendan Miller contributed 11 points, six rebounds, and five assists, and Jalen Benson and Harrison each scored 10 points, with Benson also earning six assists and two steals and Harrison pulling down five rebounds.
As a team, the Mariners shot 52.3 percent (34-of-65) from the field, including 4-of-10 from behind the three-point line, and 71.9 percent (23-of-32) from the free throw line. On the other side, the Pride shot 36.5 percent (23-of-63) from the field, including 9-of-30 from behind the three-point line, and 70.6 percent (24-of-34) from the free throw line.
Regis (0-2) starts a three-game pre-Thanksgiving homestand Tuesday, Nov. 19, against Clark starting at 6 p.m. The Pride will then host Curry Saturday, Nov. 23, at 1 p.m. and Framingham State Tuesday, Nov. 26, at 6 p.m.