Mariners Win Home-Opener at the Buzzer

 NEW LONDON, CONN. - The Mitchell men's basketball team won a thriller at the buzzer in their 2008-09 home-opener against the Trailblazers of Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts on Wednesday evening.  Mitchell inbounded the ball with less than four seconds to play in the game, and Jenel Russell (East Hampton, N.Y.) hit a lay-up as time expired for the 68-67 win.  The Mariners were led by Eric Murray (Bridgeport, Conn.) who just missed a double-double with 21 points and nine rebounds.

The home team started the game strongly and led by nine points at the 12:53 mark of the first half.  The Trailblazers would then convert two three-pointers, a jumper by John Greenberg (Antwerp, Belgium), and two free throws by Kris McLaughlin (Pittsfield, Mass.) to cut down the Mitchell lead.  Both teams battled for the rest of the half, and Mitchell took a slim 32-31 lead into the locker room at halftime.

MCLA took control of the game for the first five minutes of the second half and took a quick seven point lead.  They would maintain that lead for much of the second half, as the Mariners struggled to close the gap.  The home team came to life with 7:56 left to play in the game, when Rodney DeLeaver (Mattapan, Mass.) hit a free throw, Mike DePaolo (Asbury, N.J.) made a three pointer and a lay-up, and Tyler Blier (Wolcott, Conn.) closed out the run with an easy lay-in. With only :50 on the clock, the game stood at a 65-65 tie.  Mitchell would take a one point lead on a Josh Witt (New London, Conn.) free throw, but MCLA would score on a Greenberg jumper with 10 seconds left to go ahead by one.  The Mariners had one last chance on a dead ball play with four seconds remaining, when Witt found Russell for the winning basket.

DePaolo netted 17 points, while Witt handed out 10 assists on the evening.  Greenberg led the Trailblazers with 15 points and 8 boards, and Chris Harris (Boston, Mass.) chipped in 14 points in the loss.

The Mariners (4-4) are now idle until January 10, 2009, when they host Daniel Webster College.  MCLA is back in action on December 29, 2008 at Case Western.