MIT Falls to Harvard, Hollingsworth Out for Season

Despite a great effort, MIT fell to Harvard 84-58 this afternoon at Lavietes Pavilion on the Harvard campus. MIT was led by Will Tashman, who scored 19 points and had 5 rebounds, despite foul trouble. MIT took a brief lead 6.5 minutes into the contest, but had no answer for the size and athleticism of the Harvard players, getting out-rebounded by 16 and having 9 shots blocked. More photos of the game can be found here or here.

Noel Hollingsworth, who was named a 1st Team Preseason All-American by D3Hoops.com, did not play in the game because of injury. Hollingsworth has been plagued by injury all season, starting only 2 games, while making appearances in just 6 games overall. Hollingsworth suffered a torn shoulder labrum in the first game of the season. He attempted to play through the injury, but after lack of improvement of the shoulder, doctors advised that he shut it down for the season. Hollingsworth will apply for a medical waiver (as current MIT assistant coach Billy Johnson was able to do last year), which will put him in the same athletic class as sophomores Mitchell Kates, Will Tashman, and Jamie Karraker.

Holiday Greetings from MIT Basketball

Image Courtesy of Dawn Anderson
The MIT basketball program wants to wish all their friends, families, and fans a very happy holidays. Wishing you all the best in 2011!

Don't forget to come support the Engineers as they travel up Mass Ave to take on the Harvard Crimson on December 31 for a 2:00 PM tip.

MIT Remains at #19 in D3Hoops.com Top 25

MIT remained at the #19 spot in the D3Hoops.com Top 25, this week, after not having any games due to the end of the semester. MIT picked up a few more votes, despite remaining stationary in the poll, for a total of 187 (+14).

In addition to MIT, fellow NEWMAC foe WPI remained in the Top 25, checking in at the #23 spot.

MIT is off until New Year's Eve, when they travel to Harvard to take on the Crimson for an afternoon showdown.

Nick Davis Dunk Highlights

Image Courtesy of Tom Gearty
6'5" freshman G/F Nick Davis arrived on campus this fall with a reputation for being a high-flyer. He has not disappointed. In the highlights below, Davis dunks three times in consecutive games against UMass-Boston, Salem State, and Lesley.

Statistically Speaking

This is how MIT stacks up statistically in the NEWMAC and against other NCAA DIII teams across the country. Stats are for games through 12/12/2010. Only statistics in which MIT is top 2 in the NEWMAC as a team (or top 100 in the NCAA) and top 15 in individual categories are listed (or ranked by the NCAA). Note that the NCAA does not rank all categories that the NEWMAC ranks. Also, Noel Hollingsworth does not qualify for NCAA rankings yet, as he has missed some games due to injury. Therefore, he is only listed in the NEWMAC categories.

Team Statistics

Statistic	Value	NEWMAC	NCAA
Scoring Offense	81.0	1	45
Scoring Margin	+18.0	1	7
FG%	47.6	1	72
Rebound Margin	+9.3	1	13
Assists	17.1	1	27
3FGM FT%	7.6	1	79
FT%	73.7	2	43
Scoring Defense	63.0	2	61
Steals	9.4	2	83
FG% Defense	40.4	3	72

Individual Statistics

Player	Statistic	Value	NEWMAC	NCAA
Noel Hollingsworth	Scoring	15.5	5
	Rebounds	7.3	5
	FG%	49.3	9
	FT%	80.0	5
	Blocks	1.17	5
Mitchell Kates	Scoring	14.5	6	364
	FG%	50.0	6
	Assists	5.3	2	37
	FT%	75.0	13	355
	Steals	2.6	2	53
	3FG%	33.3	7
	3FGM	1.10	10
	A/TO	1.89	2	90
	Minutes	30.4	5
Will Tashman	Scoring	12.3	12
	Rebounds	8.6	2	85
	FG%	47.0	11
	Assists	2.50	8
	FT%	78.9	7	256
	Steals	1.30	15
	Blocks	0.80	7	370
	A/TO	1.56	4
	Minutes	29.2	11
Jamie Karraker	points	13.5	9	478
	Steals	1.30	15
	3 FG%	42.4	3	66
	3FGM	3.60	1	15
Billy Bender	Assists	1.90	15
	3FG%	45.5	1
	3 FGM	1.00	11
Will Dickson	Points	7.8	26
	FG%	51.6	5
	Blocks	0.60	9
Tim Donegan	Blocks	0.44	14

MIT Up To #19 in D3Hoops.com Poll

MIT moved up in this week's D3Hoops.com Top 25, after another 3-0 week. MIT, previously at #21, moved up two spots by receiving 32 additional votes, for a total of 173.

In addition to MIT, fellow NEWMAC foe WPI remained in the Top 25, moving up one spot to #22.

MIT is off until New Year's Eve, when they travel to Harvard to take on the Crimson for an afternoon showdown.

More Than a Game: Anderson Family Faces Off

Image Courtesy of Dawn Anderson
This past Tuesday night, MIT stormed past UMass-Boston in seemingly just a regular non-conference match-up. However, for Coach Anderson and his family, the night was anything but ordinary. Stephanie Keeler of the MIT Office of the Dean for Student Life writes more in this article from the MIT News office:

The Anderson family takes the court: Father and son square off in MIT-UMass basketball game

MIT Shoots Past Lesley

Image Courtesy of Dawn Anderson
MIT came out strong in their contest this afternoon with Lesley University, extending their lead to 16 points with 2 minutes remaining in the first half. However, they would be plagued by inopportune fouls and poor shooting over the next 10 minutes of the contest, allowing Lesley to slash the lead to 1 point with 13 minutes remaining in the contest, 52-51. Behind strong defense, led by Daniel McCue who took multiple charges on the afternoon, and stellar outside shooting, MIT answered by mounting a 30-7 run and putting the game out of reach. Freshman Nick Davis capped off the game with a two-handed slam in the final minutes of the game, his third dunk in three games (check the blog next week for video of all three dunks). The final score was 82-61.

Jamie Karraker led MIT with 24 points, behind 8-16 shooting from 3. Karraker was one made 3 away from tying the Institute single-game record in the category. He also added 7 boards. Also playing well for MIT were Noel Hollingsworth, who had 22 points and 8 rebounds, Tim Donegan, who had 10 points on 4-5 shooting, Nick Davis, who had 11 points and 4 rebounds, Mitch Kates, who had 7 points and 4 assists, and Dan McCue, who finished with 6 points on 2-2 shooting from 3.

MIT is off for the next 3 weeks until their contest against Harvard on New Year's Eve.

MIT Survives at Salem State

Mitchell Kates converted both of his free throws with 5.6 seconds remaining to give MIT a 76-75 win on the road this evening against Salem State university.

MIT would build a lead as much as 11 in the first half, and go into the break up by 7, but could not shake Salem State. The Vikings would use a 17-8 run at the beginning of the 2nd half to briefly take a 2 point lead with 14.5 minutes left in the contest. MIT responded, though, and did not trail again until Salem State capped off a 6-0 run to take a 1 point lead with 20 seconds to play. However, Kates would be fouled on MIT's next possession and convert the free throws.

The Engineers shot a sizzling 55% from 3, but uncharacteristically were outrebounded 47-31. Kates led MIT with 22 points (5-7 on 3s) and 5 assists. Noel Hollingsworth added 18 points and 8 boards, while Will Tashman added 8 points, 10 rebounds, 2 steals, and 2 blocks. Also shooting well for MIT was Jamie Karraker, who scored 17 points (4-6 on 3s).

MIT travels to play Lesley University this Saturday, December 11, for their last game of the fall semester.

Davis Delivers in MIT Victory

Image Courtesy of Dawn Anderson
MIT cruised past UMass-Boston this evening, behind solid contributions from the freshman class. Newcomer Nick Davis posted a career-high 29 points on 12-13 shooting, to go along with 7 boards. Noel Hollingsworth also played well, scoring 16 points in just 17 minutes of action.

The game was lopsided from the start, as MIT would build a lead as large as 40-15 lead in the first half. In the second half the lead grew to 35, with the final tally being 92-68.

The game recap and boxscore can be found at the Official MIT Athletics Website.

MIT at #21 in D3Hoops.com Top 25

MIT remained in the week two edition of the D3Hoops.com Top 25, after a 3-0 week. However, despite picking up a total of 34 votes from last week's poll (107 to 141), MIT dropped a spot in the poll to #21. This was due to some teams that were previously ranked below MIT in the polls picking up some wins against more highly regarded opponents in the past week.

In addition to MIT, the NEWMAC is now also represented by WPI in the Top 25, who breaks into the poll for the first time this season at #23.

MIT hosts UMass-Boston tonight (Tuesday, December 7, 2010) at 7:00 PM in Rockwell Cage.

Guard Play Dominates Gordon

Image Courtesy of Dawn Anderson
After a recent lack of success from the outside, MIT got back on track from behind the arc this afternoon, en route to a 92-73 win at Gordon. After a close opening few minutes of the game, MIT would start to pull away, leading by 16 at the half. The lead would balloon to as many as 26 in the second half, before the final margin of 19. MIT shot 14-25 (56%) from 3 in this contest, a large improvement over their 6-31 (19%) 3-point shooting in their last game against Newbury.

MIT was led by starting guards Mitchell Kates and Jamie Karraker. Kates flirted with a triple-double, finishing with 23 points (10-15 FGs), 8 assists, and 7 steals. Karraker shot 7-9 from 3, accounting for all 21 of his points. Will Tashman added a double-double with 15 points and 10 rebounds. Noel Hollingsworth returned for the Engineers, easing back into action in a reserve role.

The game boxscore can be found at the Official MIT Athletics Website.

MIT improves to 6-1 on the season. They host UMass-Boston on Tuesday, December 7, at 7:00 PM in Rockwell Cage. The matchup will be the first time Coach Anderson faces his son, Paul, in collegiate competion, who is a freshman on the UMass-Boston squad.

Defense, Dickson Carry MIT Over Newbury

MIT overcame poor outside shooting with strong play in the post and on the defensive end, carrying them to a 61-53 win over Newbury College this evening at Rockwell Cage.

MIT came out of the gates asleep in this contest, being outplayed in every facet of the game for the first 13 minutes of action. MIT was finally awokened after the found themselves down 28-17 with 7 minutes to play in the first half, going on a 21-6 run that gave them a 4 point lead at the intermission. MIT shot poorly from distance throughout the contest, going a total of 6-31 from 3 for the game, but especially in the second half (0-13 from 3). However, strong defense allowed them to push the lead to double-digits in the second half, with the final margin being 8 points. MIT was led by freshman Will Dickson, scoring a game-high 18 points on 8-14 shooting, adding 6 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 blocks, and 2 steals. Will Tashman also played strong in the post, scoring 15 points on 6-8 shooting. Point guard Mitch Kates led the team with 8 rebounds, 6 assists, and 4 steals.

The game boxscore can be found at the Official MIT Athletics Website.

MIT tavels to play at Gordon this Saturday for a 3:00 PM tipoff.

MIT-Harvard Game Reception and Signup for Alumni Celebration

The MIT Club of Boston is again organizing an event to rally support around the MIT Men's basketball program as they get set to face Harvard on December 31, at 2:00 PM. All friends of MIT can buy tickets ahead of the date of the game for only $10 at the link below. Following the game, there will be a free reception for those that RSVP.

BUY TICKETS FOR THE HARVARD GAME AND RSVP FOR THE POST-GAME RECEPTION

In addition to the event on New Year's Eve following the game at Harvard, MIT will be commemorating the 110 year anniversary of basketball at MIT and the 150th anniversary of The Institute at its biannual alumni celebration in February. The registration for the event is now open and can be found at the link below utilizing the Infinite Connection system.

RSVP FOR BIANNUAL ALUMNI CELEBRATION INCLUDING 110 YEAR ANNIVERSARY OF MIT BASKETBALL