February 4, 2008
Hanson, Hemingway Spark Eagles Past Mustangs, 83-77
- 67% shooting in second powers comeback win -
 

(Courtesy Mount Ida Sports Information)
Nashua – Leading by five at the break, the Mount Ida College Men's Basketball team could not keep pace with a surging Daniel Webster squad that shot 77% from downtown (7-9) in the second half as part of a scintillating 67% from the field sparking an 83-77 road victory Monday in Newton, Mass.

The two teams are now tied in league standings fighting for the last tournament spot in the Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) with three wins each. The Mustangs fall to 5-13 on the season, 3-9 in the GNAC. Daniel Webster, which avenged an 89-82 loss to the Mustangs on January 10th, improves to 5-13, 3-10 in league play with their second straight win.

It went basket for basket in the opening five and a half minutes with the hosts holding a small edge. But Eagle freshman sharpshooter Chris Hanson (Salem, MA/Salem) knocked down the first of his six three pointers for a 12-9 advantage at the 14:35 mark. Hanson went on to post a game high 25 points on the night, equaling his total in the earlier meeting with the Mustangs.

The lead would hold for the Eagles until midway through the first stanza when Mustang junior Gino Dipietro (Westbrook, ME/Westbrook) caromed a lay-up off the glass making it 17-16. The score would stretch to as many as eight with six minutes showing on the clock in favor of Mount Ida. Although the visitors would keep it close, the teams would eventually go into halftime with Mount Ida leading 33-28.

The Mustangs built a 12 point lead in the opening minutes of the second. But the Eagles caught fire in the last quarter of the game regaining the lead for good with back-to-back treys from Hanson turning a 54-53 deficit into a 58-54 lead with 10:17 to play.

After a Matt Bennett layup cut it to 60-59 with 8:05 to go, A.J. Hemingway (8 of 11 from the floor) answered with a huge jumper sparking a game-altering 13-2 run that ended with a Brian Inge exclamatory trey for a 73-61 lead with 5:14 left.

Mount Ida showcased three players in double figures including Bennett's 21 points and 11 boards (his second game against the Eagles with over 20 points and 10 rebounds). Sophomore Bruce Cary (Standish, ME/Bonny Eagle) and junior Michael Dunham (Salem, NH/Salem) combined for 30 points and five rebounds.

Daniel Webster saw great performances from Hanson and Hemingway (Staten Island, NY/Curtis) who tallied 23 points and three assists. Joel Prince added seven points and continued his recent surge around the boards, pulling down 11 rebounds.

The Mustangs will stay home for a midweek match-up this Wednesday against GNAC number one seed Emmanuel College with tip-off beginning at 7:00 p.m. The Eagles travel to Suffolk Wednesday for a GNAC meeting.