Murray Leads Mariners Past Wheelock

 NEW LONDON, CONN. - Junior forward  Eric Murray (Bridgeport, Conn.) led Mitchell past Wheelock College on Saturday afternoon, 66-53.  Murray scored 31 points, pulled down 13 rebounds, and had two assists and two steals in the first conference (NECC) win for the Mariners.  Mitchell is now 5-7 overall and 1-2 in the NECC, while the loss drops Wheelock College to 3-10 on the season.

The Wildcats had a very balanced scoring attack as 10 different players scored in the game.  They were led by Kyle Pierce (Burlington, Mass.) with 11 points and Sherard Robbins (Malden, Mass.) with 10 points.

Junior guard Mike DePaolo (Asbury, N.J.) contributed with 10 points, while sophomore center Jenel Russell (East Hampton, N.Y.) scored five points, had six rebounds, and five assists in the home win for Mitchell.

The visiting Wildcats led for most of the first half, and they went into the locker room at halftime with a slim 29-28 lead.  The Mariners used a 19-5 run mid-way through the second half to pull ahead for good and earn their first NECC victory of the season.  Back-to-back three pointers by DePaolo and Murray began the run, and a lay-up by Murray gave Mitchell a 62-45 lead with 3:46 remaining in the game.   As a team, Mitchell shot 44.3% (27-for-61)from the floor, while holding Wheelock to 37% shooting (20-for-54) from the floor and 10% shooting (1-for-10) from long distance.

The Mariners are back in action on Tuesday, January 20^th when they host Newbury College at 7pm.