Men’s Basketball Suffers 75-69 Double Overtime Setback to Mount Ida
Framingham, Mass. – Freshman forward Cam Walker (New Bedford, Mass.) and senior forward Jeff McNair (Brockton, Mass.) combined for 38 points, including nine of the Mustangs 11 in the second overtime, to lead Mount Ida College to a thrilling 75-69 double overtime victory over the Framingham State University men's basketball team in non-conference action at Framingham's Athletic Center.
Walker led all scorers with a game-high 21 points on 8-of-12 shooting from the field to go along with 13 rebounds, four assists and four steals, while McNair also racked up a double double with 17 points and a game-best 13 rebounds. McNair shot 7-of-13 from the field and 3-of-3 from the line including a pair of free throws that put the Mustangs on top for good in the second extra session.
The Rams received 37 points from their bench in the game including a team-high 14 points from senior Tyrone Figueroa (Revere, Mass.). Sophomore forward Patrick Cuff (Medway, Mass.) chipped in a season and career-high 12 points on 6-of-6 shooting from the field, while freshman Tim Sheridan (Rutland, Mass.) notched his first career double double with 11 points and 10 boards. Sophomore Andre Santana (Worcester, Mass.) just missed his first double double of the year as he finished with nine and nine.
Framingham opened up a 10 point lead in the first half on a trifecta from freshman Joe McCabe (Canton, Mass.). Sheridan and Santana combined for 17 first half points as the Rams outscored the Mustangs 28-18 in the paint in the opening frame.
The Mustangs chipped away at the Rams lead pulling within one (37-36) a three in transition from Walker with just over a minute remaining and pulled ahead as time expired on a put back by McNair to take a 38-37 lead at the break.
The Mustangs led by as many as nine on a McNair jumper with 8:54 remaining in regulation, but the Rams methodically chipped away at the lead. A pair of layups by Cuff and Figueroa put the Rams on top by one (60-59) with 1:05 on the clock, but on the Mustangs next possession Walker was fouled. Walker hit one of two to retie the game and force the first overtime as neither team could score in the final 52.8 of regulation.
An Aaron Kelly (Norwalk, CT) jumper put the Mustangs up two (64-62) with 1:46 left in the first overtime, but freshman Elijah Chisholm (East Boston, Mass.) tied the game on layup with 14 seconds on the clock. The Rams appeared to have a steal on the Mustang's next possession, but were called for a foul instead sending Walker to the line with two seconds remaining. Walker missed the front end of a one and one sending the game to the second extra session.
The two teams traded hoops to begin the second overtime before the Mustangs used three McNair freebies and a Walker jumper to take the lead for good.
The Rams return to action on Monday evening at Colby-Sawyer at 7 p.m., while the Mustangs open their conference schedule on Saturday at Emmanuel at 1 p.m.