Anna Maria Slips Past MBB
PAXTON, Mass. -- Anna Maria College overcame a 10-point halftime deficit to topple the Mitchell College men's basketball team by an 87-83 final in overtime on Friday night at the Fuller Center.
Mike Rapoza scored 21 of his game-high 27 points after intermission and also finished with 21 rebounds to lead the AMCATS. He shot 10-for-14 from the floor and 7-for-8 from the line on the night. Bobby Perette netted 25 points while Kennedy Minix-Rogers chipped in 17 to help Anna Maria's cause.
Jalen Benson led three Mariners in double digits with a career-high 22 points on 9-for-11 shooting. Matt Finke added 15 points, four rebounds and four assists while Marvin Baker came off the bench to record a double-double of 12 points and 12 boards.
Benson spurred the Mariners to a 41-31 halftime lead with 14 points in the opening stanza. Mitchell pushed the margin to as many as 14 early in the second half before Anna Maria began chipping away at the deficit. The AMCATS eventually pulled even at 53-53 with 12:31 to go on a bucket by Rapoza, and the game stayed tight for the remainder of regulation.
The Mariners trailed by two with under a minute remaining when Benson carved through the lane to tie the game with a layup. On Anna Maria's next possession, Rapoza missed on two chances near the basket and Hasani Williams came down with the rebound. He was knocked to the ground in the scrum and was whistled for a travel, giving the final possession of regulation back to the AMCATS with 16 ticks left on the clock. Minix-Rogers ultimately missed on the game-winning three before the buzzer and the game went into bonus time.
Benson scored the first basket of OT to give Mitchell the early lead, but Anna Maria answered with seven straight points and never trailed again. The Mariners made it a two-point game with under a minute remaining in extra time, but the AMCATS sealed the victory from the free throw line late.
Mitchell (2-7 overall) will next hit the road for a three-game swing in Florida. The Mariners open the trip with a date against St. Thomas University on Tuesday, December 17 at noon.