Sunday, February 26, 2012

MIT Advances to NEWMAC Championship with 65-42 Win

Junior Mitchell Kates shot 7-of-10 in the first half vs. Babson (Pic: Robert Krawitz)
The nationally-ranked #3 MIT Basketball team, the host of this year's NEWMAC Conference Tournament, took down visiting Babson College, 65-42, in front of a sell-out crowd in Rockwell Cage yesterday afternoon. Tech held to Babson to just 8 points for over a 15-minute span that spilled over into the second the half of the semi-final game.

6'8" Will Tashman was difficult to stop inside (Pic: Robert Krawitz)
Mitchell Kates couldn't be stopped in the first half, scoring 15 of his 19 points in the frame to go with his 4 assists, 3 rebounds, and steal. Preseason All-American Noel Hollingsworth, recently named to the CoSIDA Academic All-American squad, notched 16 points, 8 rebounds, 2 blocks, a steal, and an assist in the win. Last year's Tournament MVP Will Tashman was a force down low, scoring 14 points with 6 rebounds and 4 assists in just 21 minutes of action. Senior Billy Bender pitched in 12 points and 8 rebounds as well.

Rockwell Cage was filled to capacity for the semi-final game (Pic: Robert Krawitz)
MIT shot 55% from the field while holding Babson to 39% from the field and 7% from three.

Tech takes on Springfield College today at 1pm for the NEWMAC Conference Tournament Championship.