February 16, 2009

Coast Guard Cruises to 76-50 Win Over Mitchell

NEW LONDON, CONN.-(2/16/09)--Senior Craig Johnson (Medford, Ore.) had 19 of his season-high 31 points in the first half as Coast Guard won its fourth straight with a 76-50 win over host Mitchell in a non-conference game between the two New London schools.  Junior Eric Murray (Bridgeport, Conn.) had 15 points and a game-high eight rebounds for Mitchell (8-14) which has lost four straight.

Coast Guard (12-11) took control of the game early in the second half when Johnson scored 10 straight points turning a 40-29 lead into a 50-29 advantage with 14:23 left in the game.

Johnson had scored the Bears final 11 points of the first half and he outscored Mitchell 9-2 to end the half turning a 26-23 lead into a 35-25 halftime advantage.

Sophomore Trip Fernandes (Branford, Conn.) scored eight straight points, two 3-pointers and a pair of free throws to erase an early 18-16 deficit and give Coast Guard a 24-18 lead with five minutes left in the first half.

Coast Guard was 13 of 27 from the floor in the first half while connecting on two of six from 3-point range. Mitchell was 10 for 28 in the first half (35.7 percent) while missing all six tries from behind the arc.

Fernandes finished with 11 points to go with his team-high seven rebounds for Coast Guard.

The Bears were 25 for 58 from the floor (43.1 percent) and five for 15 from 3-point range. Coast Guard had a great night at the foul line hitting 21 of 23 (91.3 percent).

Mitchell finished 17 of 48 from the floor (35.4 percent) while making one of 11 from behind the arc.

Mitchell is now 8-14 overall and 4-7 in NECC play, and they return to action on Tuesday, February 17th when they travel to Lesley University.