Men’s Basketball Battles Monks in GNAC Opener
| Final | 1 | 2 | T | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Mitchell (4-10,0-2 Great N) | 34 | 30 | 64 |
|
Saint Joseph's (Me.) (5-8,1-0 Great No) | 40 | 35 | 75 |
STANDISH, ME – The Mitchell College men's basketball team fought to stay in the game but fell 75–64 to Saint Joseph's College (ME) on Saturday afternoon in the Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) opener for both teams at the Harold Alfond Center.
Mitchell stayed within striking distance throughout the opening half before heading into the break trailing 40–34. The Mariners were fueled early by a strong offensive showing from junior guard Troy Butler (Manchester, Conn.), who scored 16 first-half points, including four three-pointers, while also adding multiple rebounds and a steal. Sophomore forward Abdul Mansaray (Jacksonville, Fla.) provided production in the paint, scoring 14 points in the half on interior finishes and offensive rebounds.
The Mariners opened the second half and continued to lean on Butler and Mansaray to close the gap. Butler finished with a game-high 28 points, connecting on 11-of-22 shooting and 4-of-8 from beyond the arc, while Mansaray posted 22 points and nine rebounds, anchoring the defense with five blocks.
Mitchell pulled within single digits multiple times in the second half, but the Monks answered with timely shooting and trips to the free-throw line down the stretch.
SJC received 15 points and 10 rebounds from Wani Donato, while Davis Mann and John Paul Frazier added 11 and 10 points, respectively. The Monks converted 8-of-13 free throws and finished with a 46–28 rebounding advantage.
The Mariners (4-9, 0-1 GNAC) will search for their first conference win of the season when they travel to face Rivier University on Wednesday, January 14, with tip-off scheduled for 6:00 p.m.
