Engineers Overpower Wheelock 81-51

Box Score

The MIT Engineers ended the first semester in fine fashion Saturday afternoon, taking down Wheelock College 81-51 to end the slate 8-2 and on a 5-game win-streak. The Engineers shot 56% from the field, 47% from three, dished out 25 assists, and out-rebounded the Wildcats by 29.

Head Coach Larry Anderson earned his 279th win on Saturday. He is 120-33 in the last 6 seasons (Pic: Tom Gearty)

6'8" Junior co-captain Andrew Acker stuffed the stat sheet again with 20 points, 16 rebounds, 7 assists, and 1 block. 6'6" Sophomores Justin Pedley and Russell Johnson put on quite a show, with Pedley posting 20 points with four three-pointers and Johnson netting career-highs of 16 points, 16 rebounds, and 4-of-4 from beyond the arc. 6'10" Sophomore Lampros Tsontzos had a career-high game as well with 12 points and 9 rebounds going 6-of-7 from the field.

6'10" Lampros Tsontzos from Greece with the lay-up (Pic: Tom Gearty)

The SLAMBLOCKULATOR was also in full effect on Saturday afternoon, with Freshman Tim Butala and Garrett House throwing down two hammer fast-break dunks.

6'8" Freshman Tim Butala adds one to the SLAMBLOCKULATOR (Pic: Tom Gearty)

In his post-game email to friends, family, and alums of the program, Coach Anderson spoke about the first semester and the upcoming weeks ahead: "I was pleased to finish the first portion of the season heading into finals week on a positive note. The effort put forth by our student-athletes in the final push of the fall semester was admirable.  Now it’s time for them to turn their full attention to their academic pursuits, final exams and projects.  In the classroom is where our student-athletes really shine.  It’s the place where they make us proudest.  We will be right here to support them 100%."  

The Engineers head into the break 8-2 (Pic: Tom Gearty)

MIT takes on Clark University January 8th in Rockwell Cage. 

Game Preview: MIT vs. Wheelock

MIT vs. Wheelock College
Saturday, Rockwell Cage, 1pm

Live Stats | Video

Probable Starters:

MIT (7-2)	Ht.	PPG	RPG		Wheelock (0-7)	Ht.	PPG	RPG
Tim Butala	6'8"	2.0	1.8		Joe Reedy	6'3"	13.5	7.8
Andrew Acker	6'8"	11.0	8.9		Anthony Williams	6'2"	13.4	7.0
Dennis Levene	6'8"	5.8	5.2		Derek Fournier	6'2"	10.3	5.0
Justin Pedley	6'6"	15.0	1.4		Rashaan Powell	5'10"	7.9	2.0
Paul Dawson	5'10"	5.4	4.6 apg		Nicholas Fenton	5'10"	7.9	5.7 apg

A Look at Wheelock:
The Wheelock Wildcats will head into The Cage on Saturday night with a talented young roster that boasts four underclassmen starters. The Engineers will need increased focus defending the dribble drive and must continue to limit their turnovers in their quest to become a more efficient offense attack.

Wheelock is another team that likes to get out and run on their opponent's turnovers and misses, with Fenton leading the break and making plays. In the half-court Williams and Reedy will look to post hard, while on the perimeter the guards will run a dribble-drive offense with a lot of dribble hand-offs. Fournier is a deadly shooter from the perimeter, and the Wildcats will run a few sets to get him open.

MIT again must continue to limit their turnovers while utilizing their size. Versus Newbury the Engineers got hot from three in the second-half, which allowed for a dominant inside-out game.

Tune in at half-time for MITHoop.NET's in-game analysis.

NEWMAC's Strong Performance in New England Region

The NEWMAC and NESCAC conferences sit atop the rankings for highest overall conference winning percentage in the extremely competitive New England region (games played through 12/10). There are currently ten New England teams receiving votes for the Top 25 national poll, more than any other region. 

Conference	Overall Winning %
NESCAC	.716
NEWMAC	.708
LEC	.615
CCC	.438
GNAC	.418
NAC	.413
NECC	.391
MASCAC	.321

Region	# Teams Receiving Top 25 Votes
New England	10
West	8
Great Lakes	8
South	8
Middle Atlantic	8
MidWest	7
East	2
Atlantic	1

Engineers Topple Nighthawks 71-53

Box Score

Despite not having their leading scorer and leading rebounder Matt Redfield, the Engineers earned their fourth win in a row and seventh win of the season with the 71-53 decision over Newbury College tonight.

MIT shot 52% from the field, 50% from three, dished out 19 assists, and out-rebounded Newbury 43-20.

Sophomore Ryan Frankel nailed three three-pointers in a career-high performance (Pic: Tom Gearty)

Leading the way for the Engineers was 6'6" Sophomore Justin Pedley, connecting on four three-pointers en route to a game-high 20 points. Fellow Sophomore Ryan Frankel netted a career-high 17 points along with 5 assists to pace the Engineers at the point guard position. Down low 6'8" Junior co-captains Dennis Levene and Andrew Acker were dominant, combining for 27 points, 21 rebounds, 8 assists, and 3 steals.

Junior co-captain Dennis Levene put up 13 points, 11 rebounds, and 5 assists (Pic: Tom Gearty)

MIT moves to 7-2 on the season, and will close out the first semester this Saturday versus Wheelock College.

Game Preview: MIT vs. Newbury College

MIT vs. Newbury College
Monday, Hellenic College, 6pm

Live Stats | Video

Probable Starters:

MIT (6-2)	Ht.	PPG	RPG		Newbury (0-8)	Ht.	PPG	RPG
Matt Redfield	6'8"	13.9	9.8		Cameron Owen	6'7"	5.5	3.4
Andrew Acker	6'8"	10.6	8.8		Adam James	6'4"	5.1	4.4
Dennis Levene	6'8"	4.9	4.5		Ceejae Carter	6'2"	2.6	1.2
Justin Pedley	6'6"	14.4	1.5		Eric Watson	6'2"	16.8	5.4
Paul Dawson	5'10"	5.9	5.1 apg		Milciades Carrasco	5'11"	11.1	0.8 apg

A Look at Newbury:
The Nighthawks of Newbury College are coming off one of their best seasons in the past five years with a conference (NECC) finish of 12-4. Currently, they are in the middle of a brutal non-conference schedule, in which they play five games in seven days and should come into Monday’s contest battle-tested having played some of the best teams in the country (4 of their first 7 games vs. nationally ranked opponents). The Nighthawks have 9 new promising freshmen and were voted in the preseason to finish near the top of their conference.

Newbury will look for their leading scorer Watson to attack coast-to-coast for layups in transition or Carrasco for the pull-up three. In the half-court, Watson can do it all, Carrasco will look to catch and shoot, and Owens, a stretch-5, has range beyond the arc. MIT must take care of these three primary scorers. Given MIT's size advantage, the Nighthawks may mix their defenses up (man-to-man, 3-2 zone, 2-3 zone).

MIT must continue to work on their ability to take care of the ball and use their height advantage tonight against Newbury.

MIT Downs Salem State at Home

Box Score

The MIT Engineers were short-handed at the end of the game, but were able to squeak out a 61-57 win versus Salem State tonight at Rockwell Cage. MIT's leading scorer Matt Redfield had to leave the game midway through the first half, and Junior captain Dennis Levene fouled out with 6 minutes left in the contest, but MIT was able to prevail with their 6th win of the season with solid play from the rest of the team.

In 12 minutes of action, 6'8" Redfield tallied 6 points, 3 rebounds, 1 steal, 1 block, and a reverse dunk. Fellow 6'8" big-man Andrew Acker led the rest of the way, registering 15 points with 11 rebounds and 3 assists while shooting 9-of-10 from the free-throw line. 6'6" Sophomore Justin Pedley was a perfect 7-for-7 from the line for 15 points as well. 

6'6" Sophomore Russell Johnson provided a spark off the bench, connecting on three three-pointers in a crucial three-minute stretch, while 6'8" Dennis Levene added 7 points, 8 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 steal, and 1 block before fouling out. 

MIT moves to 6-2 on the season and will face Newbury College on Monday at 6pm. 

Game Preview: MIT vs. Salem State University

MIT vs. Salem State University
Thursday, Rockwell Cage, 7pm

Live Stats | Video

Probable Starters:

MIT (5-2)	Ht.	PPG	RPG		Salem State (3-2)	Ht.	PPG	RPG
Matt Redfield	6'8"	15.0	10.7		Chris Parenteau	6'9"	6.8	5.6
Andrew Acker	6'8"	10.0	8.4		Hamed Akanni	6'3"	13.0	7.4
Dennis Levene	6'8"	4.2	4.0		Andrew White	6'2"	11.2	3.6
Justin Pedley	6'6"	14.3	1.3		Anthony Hodges	5'11"	9.4	3.4
Paul Dawson	5'10"	5.9	5.7 apg		Bryan Ortiz	5'11"	17.4	3.0 apg

A Look at Salem State:
Salem State is a storied program with 20+ wins in five of their last seven seasons, including a number of MASCAC championships and NCAA Tournament appearances. They are currently 3-2 on the season, with their two losses coming to nationally ranked #9 WPI and #10 Williams.

The Vikings are another fast, athletic squad that is looking to capitalize on turnovers and mistakes. They will get out on the break to attack the basket or kick it out for a quick three. They will normally play four guards, all comfortable bringing the ball up the court and attacking. In the half-court they run a 4-out-1-in motion, wasting no time on the clock to penetrate the lane. On defense, the Engineers will most likely be faced with a half-court man.

Tonight the Engineers will be tested again on how well they can handle the ball. With 22 turnovers last game, MIT appears to beat themselves at times. Salem State is a team that will convert points off of these turnovers and ultimately make you pay. With the clear size advantage, MIT must also expect to spend a considerable amount of time at the free-throw line again. MIT's bigs must take advantage of these free opportunities to put points on the board. Finally, MIT's guards must knock down outside shots on the double-downs to the post players, keeping the Vikings' defense honest.

Tune in tonight at half-time to listen to MITHoops.NET's half-time analysis.

MIT Grabs Win #5 Over UMass-Boston

The MIT Engineers defeated UMass-Boston tonight 69-63, earning their fifth win of the season. Despite somewhat sloppy play (MIT had 22 turnovers) and a mediocre performance at the free-throw line (15 misses), the Engineers were able to gut out the win down the stretch.

6'8" Junior Matt Redfield stuffed the stat sheet once again, posting 27 points, 16 rebound, 7 blocks, 2 dunks, 1 assist, and 1 steal on the night. Redfield moves to 85 career blocks, passing Will Tashman '13 for 9th place all-time in MIT history.

Redfield is averaging 15 points, 10 rebounds, and 3 blocks per game this season (Pic: Tom Gearty)

6'6" Sophomore Justin Pedley went 9-of-10 from the free-throw line en route to 14 points, while Freshman Dakota Pierce connected on three three-pointers for 11 points along with 4 rebounds in 20 minutes of play.

Junior point guard Paul Dawson led MIT's offense with 7 assists, and 6'10" big-man Lampros Tsontzos connected on six straight crucial points down the stretch to ensure the MIT victory.

Freshman Dakota Pierce is shooting 37% from three this season (Pic: Tom Gearty)

MIT plays host to Salem State University on Thursday at 7pm in Rockwell Cage.

Game Preview: MIT vs. University of Massachusetts - Boston

MIT vs. University of Massachusetts - Boston
Tuesday, Clark Athletic Center, 7pm

Live Stats | Video

Probable Starters:

MIT (4-2)	Ht.	PPG	RPG		UMB (3-2)	Ht.	PPG	RPG
Matt Redfield	6'8"	13.0	9.8		Carl Joseph	6'5"	19.8	6.2
Andrew Acker	6'8"	10.7	9.0		Jerard Mayes	6'4"	12.2	5.6
Dennis Levene	6'8"	5.0	4.5		Gregory Young	6'3"	12.4	5.0
Justin Pedley	6'6"	14.3	1.2		Omar Benabicha	6'0"	8.0	4.0
Paul Dawson	5'10"	6.3	5.5 apg		Ryan Lapaglia	6'0"	4.0	1.2 apg

A Look at UMass-Boston:
The University of Massachusetts - Boston is currently 3-2 and members of the very tough Little East Conference. They are another extremely athletic and mobile team that will look to get out on the break. In transition they will be looking for their do-it-all go-to-guy Carl Joseph for the pull-up three. In the half-court, the Beacons utilize a 4-around-1 motion offense, looking for the drive and kick (the Beacons put up 17 three's per game). On the defensive end the Beacons make up for their size with defensive pressure and intensity.

MIT must take care of the ball against UMass-Boston's pressure, and look for the size advantage down low. The Engineers' big-men must continue attacking the hoop, and must find the open man on the perimeter once the inevitable double-teams come. Defensively the Engineers must be able to deny dribble penetration while preventing the Beacons from getting a hot hand from beyond the arc.

MIT Defense Shuts Down Rhode Island

The MIT Engineers held Rhode Island College, who was ranked #22 in the national preseason poll, to 26.9% shooting from the field and just 38 points yesterday afternoon in the 54-38 win at Rockwell Cage. MIT's defensive performance ranks as one of the top performances for the Engineers in the last decade (MIT held two teams to 38 points: John Abbott in 2009-2010 and Gordon in 2011-2012; and two teams to 34 points: Wheelock in 2012-2013 and Polytechnic in 2003-2004). The Engineers also out-rebounded the Anchormen 42-28.

MIT held RIC to just 14 second-half points (Pic: Robert Krawitz)

MIT had four players in double-figures. 6'8" Matt Redfield led the way with 14 points, 17 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 steals, and 2 blocks, while his 6'8" teammate Andrew Acker added 11 points and 12 rebounds on 4-of-6 shooting from the field. Justin Pedley added 11 points while Freshman Dakota Pierce went 2-of-3 from three for 10 points. Junior point guard Paul Dawson paced the Engineers with 6 assists on the afternoon.

6'6" Sophomore Russell Johnson nails the jumper (Pic: Robert Krawitz)

MIT moves to 4-2 on the season and travels to University of Massachusetts - Boston on Tuesday for the 7pm tip off.

Game Preview: MIT vs. Rhode Island College

MIT vs. Rhode Island College
Saturday, Rockwell Cage, 1pm

Live Stats | Video

Probable Starters:

MIT (3-2)	Ht.	PPG	RPG		RIC (3-2)	Ht.	PPG	RPG
Matt Redfield	6'8"	12.8	8.4		Mike Neal	6'6"	7.8	6.4
Andrew Acker	6'8"	10.6	8.4		Chris Burton	6'6"	12.8	6.8
Dennis Levene	6'8"	6.0	5.4		Tom Diciantis	6'5"	9.8	5.6
Justin Pedley	6'6"	15.0	1.0		Nyheem Sanders	6'1"	14.4	4.4
Paul Dawson	5'10"	7.2	5.4 apg		Austin Cilley	5'7"	10.4	3.0 apg

A Look at Rhode Island:
Rhode Island College boasted a 26-4 record last season, going 13-1 in the LEC on their way to a conference championship. They advanced to the 2nd Round of the NCAA Tournament, earning a #13 national ranking before the final polls. The Anchormen are on a two-game win streak this season with victories over Brandeis University and Bridgewater State.

Rhode Island College is an extremely athletic and disciplined team. They hold a +6 rebounding margin per game this season, and have doubled their opponents blocks thus far. Offensively they possess a number of weapons, being able to go inside with their 6'6" duo of Mike Neal and Chris Burton, as well as pose a threat from beyond the arc (their starters shoot 37% from three).

MIT needs to be able to guard the three-ball (unlike they did versus Tufts) on the defensive end this afternoon. Offensively, the Engineers' big-men must play aggressively, utilizing their size and skill sets.

Tufts' Bench Scorches Net for Win

Box Score

Tufts University downed MIT last night at Cousens Gymnasium 77-61 behind a 7-for-7 three-point barrage from Tuft's reserves off the bench. Tufts shot 56% from three overall offensively and on the defensive end had 8 blocks to keep MIT's big-men at bay.

MIT falls to 3-2 on the season (Pic: MITHoops.NET)

6'8" Junior co-captain Andrew Acker kept the Engineers in the game with 23 points, 10 rebounds, 4 assists, and a steal on 9-of-16 shooting and 2-of-2 from three. 6'6" Justin Pedley went 4-of-9 from three for 14 points, and sophomore point guard Ryan Frankel added 10 points. Junior point guard Paul Dawson dished out 7 assists on the night.

The Engineers look to bounce back this Saturday versus Rhode Island College at home at 1pm.

Game Preview: MIT vs. Tufts University

MIT vs. Tufts University
Tuesday, Cousens Complex at Tufts, 7pm

Live Stats | Video

Probable Starters:

MIT (3-1)	Ht.	PPG	RPG		Tufts (4-1)	Ht.	PPG	RPG
Matt Redfield	6'8"	15.5	10.2		Hunter Sabety	6'8"	15.8	7.6
Andrew Acker	6'8"	7.5	8.0		Tommy Folliard	6'7"	14.4	4.2
Dennis Levene	6'8"	7.0	5.5		Stephen Haladyna	6'5"	12.2	3.6
Justin Pedley	6'6"	15.2	1.0		Oliver Cohen	6'2"	7.4	4.6 apg
Paul Dawson	5'10"	9.0	5.0 apg		Kwame Firemprong	6'0"	14.2	4.2 apg

A Look at Tufts:
Tufts University had a 17-9 overall record last season and went 7-3 in the NESCAC before losing to nationally-ranked #2 Amherst in the conference semi-finals. Tufts is currently off to a 4-1 start.

The Tufts Jumbos are averaging 90 points per game thus far this season, looking for early offense with a numbers advantage or a quick three. In the half-court they implement a 4-around-1 set, utilizing 6'8" Freshman big-man Hunter Sabety. They will work an inside-out game, and shoot very well from the outside (Tufts was the top three-point shooting team in the NESCAC last season and had the highest free-throw percentage).

MIT and Tufts present very similar lineups and are evenly matched in a number of positions. The Engineers will have to protect the paint down low while being able to get a high-hand out on the Jumbos' shooters. Tufts owns a +4 rebounding edge versus opponents, so MIT must use their size to counteract the Jumbos' ability to crash the glass.

Check out highlights from when the Engineers last met the Jumbos at Tufts (2011-2012):

Engineers Triumph Over Curry

Box Score

MIT got back to their winning ways this afternoon with a hard-fought 69-62 win over last year's CCC champions Curry College.

The Engineers, leading by as much as 17 points, allowed Curry to creep back into the game late in the second half. MIT was able to execute down the stretch, however, to earn their 3rd win of the season.

The Engineers held a 17-point lead with 17 minutes to go (Pic: MITHoops.NET)

6'8" Junior captain Matt Redfield dominated the game scoring 27 points with 13 rebounds, 5 blocks, 3 assists, 2 dunks and a steal. 6'6" sharp-shooter Justin Pedley nailed 5 three-pointers en route to a 21-point performance.

On the defensive end, 6'6" sophomore Russell Johnson led the way with 5 rebounds, 2 blocks and 2 steals while holding Curry's leading scorer to only three field goals. Junior Paul Dawson was the floor general both offensively and defensively for the Engineers, pitching in 6 points, 5 rebounds, and 3 assists.

MIT travels down the road to Tufts University to face off with the Jumbos next Tuesday at 7pm.

Game Preview: MIT vs. Curry

MIT vs. Curry College
Saturday, Curry College, 1pm

Live Stats

Probable Starters:

MIT (2-1)	Ht.	PPG	RPG		Curry (0-2)	Ht.	PPG	RPG
Matt Redfield	6'8"	11.7	9.3		Matthew Russell	6'7"	1.0	4.5
Andrew Acker	6'8"	7.7	10.0		A.J. Stephens	6'5"	7.5	3.0
Dennis Levene	6'8"	8.7	6.7		Lambros Papalambros	6'4"	18.0	4.0
Justin Pedley	6'6"	13.3	1.0		Antonio Jones	6'2"	4.0	1.5
Paul Dawson	5'10"	10.0	5.7 apg		Carlos Ribeiro	5'11"	2.5	2.5 apg

A Look at Curry College:
Curry College posted a 21-8 overall record last season, going 15-3 in the Commonwealth Coast Conference on their way to a conference championship and NCAA Tournament appearance. The Colonels fell to Middlebury by just two points in the 1st Round of the Tournament, as Middlebury advanced to the Elite 8.  

Curry is another fast, athletic team who wants to get out on the break and get to the basket. The Colonels are only averaging 4.5 assists per game and their wings, especially Papalambros, are primarily looking for one-on-one drives. Curry will look to post up 6'5" big-man A.J. Stephens, although as of game-day he is no longer listed on the roster (look for 6'4" Kenneth Ramos, the long and bouncy Freshman standout who had four dunks versus Brandeis, to take Stephens' place).

Curry is a very similar team to Bridgewater State, so the Engineers must do exactly the things they didn't do on Thursday night:
1) Take care of the basketball - 26 turnovers won't win any basketball games
2) Posts be more aggressive inside - with the Engineer's size and skill advantages down low, MIT's big-men must want to score every time down the court
3) Knock down shots - there is no other way to put it; MIT must hit their outside looks

MIT Falls to Bridgewater State

Box Score

MIT shot just 35.7% from the field, 21.4% from three, and committed 26 turnovers, falling to Bridgewater State University tonight 61-49 in Rockwell Cage. 49 points is the lowest point total the Engineers have produced since their 68-44 loss to Rhode Island College last season. It is also the first home loss for the Engineers since WPI upset nationally-ranked #3 MIT in 2011-2012.

Bridgewater State, although undersized at each position, appeared to be the aggressors in the match, diving for loose balls and setting the tone on the offensive and defensive ends. The Bears shot 40% from three while holding the Engineers to only two field goals through 19 minutes of the second half.

Dennis Levene scored 12 points and hauled in 14 rebounds in the loss (Pic: Tom Gearty)

6'8" Junior captains Matt Redfield and Dennis Levene both registered double-doubles on the night for MIT, combining for 25 points and 26 rebounds between the two. No other players reached double-figures for the Engineers.

MIT will head back to the drawing board Friday during practice, then will face last year's Commonwealth Coast Conference champions Curry College on Saturday at Curry.

MIT Basketball Featured in Boston Magazine

Check out the article here: http://www.bostonmagazine.com/news/blog/2013/11/20/basketball-fans-cant-find-home-team-root-try-division-iii/

Game Preview: MIT vs. Bridgewater State

MIT vs. Bridgewater State University
Thursday, Rockwell Cage, 7pm

Live Stats | Video

Probable Starters:

MIT (2-0)	Ht.	PPG	RPG		BSU (0-2)	Ht.	PPG	RPG
Matt Redfield	6'8"	11.0	8.0		Michael Lofton	6'5"	17.0	7.5
Andrew Acker	6'8"	10.5	14.5		Kyle Gibson	6'4"	17.5	4.5
Dennis Levene	6'8"	7.0	3.0		Diijon Reid	6'2"	5.0	1.5
Justin Pedley	6'6"	16.0	1.0		Justin Clark	6'0"	5.5	2.5
Paul Dawson	5'10"	11.0	7.0 apg		Garey Allen	5'10"	7.5	3.5 apg

A Look at Bridgewater State:
Bridgewater State University brings back their top scorers from last year's team that finished in the middle of the pack of the MASCAC. The Bears were a dominant team from 2008-2011, with two MASCAC championships, three trips to the NCAA Tournament, and a Sweet 16 appearance.

Bridgewater is a fast, athletic team that will capitalize on their opponent's turnovers. They will get out on the break on offense and will look to get all the way to the rim. Their big men are highly skilled and highly active, looking to set ball picks and big-to-big screens in their 3-out-2-in motion offense. Defensively they implement an extremely aggressive half-court man-to-man defense. They apply pressure on the ball and look to deny entry to the wings and high posts.

The Engineers were able to take care of the ball consistently versus Gordon (only 10 turnovers), but will face much more pressure against Bridgewater. MIT must be prepared for double-teams on their post players down low, and be able to knock-down the outside shots.

Tech Takes Care of Gordon at Home

Box Score

The Engineers earned their second straight win of the early season tonight with a convincing 67-48 victory over CCC preseason favorites Gordon College in Rockwell Cage.

MIT, one of the biggest teams in the country, used their length on the defensive end (Pic: Tom Gearty)

Despite MIT's shooting woes from beyond the arc (the Engineers were 4-of-14 from three), MIT was able to convert inside the paint, shooting 52% from two. MIT also dominated the defensive end, holding the Fighting Scots to just 37.8% shooting and 2-of-20 from three while forcing 17 turnovers.

Dynamic point guard Paul Dawson led the Engineers while entertaining the crowd with some spectacular plays (Pic: Tom Gearty)

Junior point guard Paul Dawson led the way for the Engineers with a stellar 17-point, 8-assist, 4-steal, 3-rebound performance all while locking down Gordon's guards the full length of the court. He was also part of the play of the night, a cross-court alley-oop pass to 6'8" Matt Redfield, who then threw down it with authority. Redfield, who was the focus of Gordon's defense and was double- and triple-teamed the entire contest, put up 14 points, 6 rebounds, 4 assists, and 2 blocks.

Junior Andrew Acker has been unstoppable the first two games, averaging a double-double (Pic: Tom Gearty)

6'8" Junior Andrew Acker continued his domination on the boards, hauling in 11 rebounds while scoring 12 points on 5-of-8 shooting. 6'8" Junior Dennis Levene and 6'6" Sophomore Justin Pedley both pitched in 9 points for the win.

6'8" Matt Redfield, an All-Conference selection last season, flies above the rim for the alley-oop (Pic: Tom Gearty)

MIT faces Bridgewater State on Thursday at 7pm in Rockwell Cage.

Game Preview: MIT vs. Gordon

MIT vs. Gordon College
Tuesday, Rockwell Cage, 7pm

Live Stats | Video

Possible Starters:

MIT (1-0)	Ht.	PPG	RPG		Gordon (0-2)	Ht.	PPG	RPG
Matt Redfield	6'8"	8.0	10.0		Hans Miersma	6'9"	11.5	7.0
Andrew Acker	6'8"	9.0	18.0		Alex Carnes	6'4"	14.5	5.5
Dennis Levene	6'8"	5.0	2.0		Taylor Bajema	6'4"	11.5	5.5
Justin Pedley	6'6"	23.0	1.0		Luke Hamilton	6'3"	2.5	1.0
Paul Dawson	5'10"	5.0	6.0 apg		Park Thomas	6'0"	7.5	2.5 apg

A Look at Gordon College:
Gordon College, voted preseason favorites to win their conference, posted a 21-7 record last season, going 14-4 in the Commonwealth Coast Conference before falling in the conference championship game to Curry College. Gordon and MIT met each other last year in the Bennett Center at Gordon where the game was neck-and-neck the entire contest. MIT eventually earned the hard-fought 64-53 win.

With four guards in the starting lineup, Gordon likes to run a continuous motion offense with a 4-out-1-in set. With some size coming off the bench, notably 6'6" Jason Dempsey, Gordon will then move to 3-out-2-in offensive sets. Defensively Gordon prefers a half-court man-to-man strategy, and will most likely look to protect the paint with MIT's size. Look for MIT's shooters to take advantage of these opportunities.

Last Week at MIT...(11/17)

MIT Alum Wins Nobel Prize in Economics

President Obama Selects MIT Professor to Head Office of Science

MIT Technology Makes it Possible to "Be" Two Places at Once

Men's and Women's Soccer, Men's and Women's Cross Country Earn NCAA Bids

MIT Overpowers Lesley in Season Opener

Box Score

The MIT Engineers started the 2013-2014 campaign with a 68-52 win over Lesley University in Rockwell Cage Friday evening.

After the Lynx scored the opening basket, the Engineers responded by converting on the next four possessions, including a back-to-back dunk and three-pointer by Junior captain Dennis Levene. MIT never looked back for the rest of the contest, overpowering Lesley with their size while utilizing a balanced offensive attack both inside the paint and beyond the three. The Engineers led by as much as 27 points and out-rebounded Lesley 49-27, including 23 offensive boards.

Sophomore Justin Pedley (Pic: Tom Gearty)

Sophomore Justin Pedley led the way offensively, scorching the nets for 23 points on seven three-pointers. Junior captain Matt Redfield stuffed the stat sheet with 8 points, 10 rebounds, 3 blocks, 2 steals, and a put-back dunk on the night, while fellow captain Andrew Acker added 9 points and dominated the glass with a career-high 18 rebounds.

Freshman Dakota Pierce came off the bench to add 8 points and 4 rebounds in 17 minutes while Junior point guard Paul Dawson paced the Engineer’s offense dishing out 6 assists.

MIT takes on Gordon College next Tuesday at 7pm in Rockwell Cage.

Game Preview: MIT vs. Lesley University

MIT vs. Lesley University
Friday, Rockwell Cage, 7pm

Live Stats | Video

Possible Starters:

MIT (0-0)	Lesley (0-0)
Matt Redfield, Jr, 6'8"	Kris Bennett, Sr, 6'8"
Andrew Acker, Jr, 6'8"	Nikalus Oliver, Jr, 6'5"
Dennis Levene, Jr, 6'8"	Mike Kaufman, Sr, 6'2"
Justin Pedley, So, 6'6"	Max McCoy, Fr, 6'0"
Paul Dawson, Jr, 5'10"	Justin Rosa, Jr, 6'0"

A Look at Lesley University:
The Lesley Lynx posted a 7-9 conference record last season with solid wins over Regis, Daniel Webster, and Southern Vermont. They suffered a 1-point loss to Gordon College, runners up in the Commonwealth Coast Conference.

Friday marks the first game of the 2013-2014 season as well for the Lynx. They faced Franklin Pierce University, a Division II team that made it to the Elite 8 last season, on Tuesday in an exhibition game.

Lesley likes to push the ball in transition, looking to get to the rim or kick out for the open three. In the half-court, Lesley has shown a 4-around-1 motion offense with a heavy emphasis on dribble penetration. The Engineers will have to contain Lesley's transition offense and clog the lane with their length.

Poor Shooting Plagues MIT in Preseason Tuneup

The Engineers shot just 28% from the field to go along with 29 turnovers in their preseason exhibition tuneup versus Division I Harvard University tonight, falling to the Crimson 79-37.

Point guard Paul Dawson drives against Siyani Chambers (Photo: Tom Gearty) 

Harvard, last year's Ivy League champions, brought back nearly their entire squad from their 2012-2013 NCAA Tourney team, and added seniors Kyle Casey and Brandyn Curry, who were sidelined last season, to the mix. Harvard shot 46% from the field and won the rebounding battle 37-33.

Junior captain Matt Redfield was one rebound away from a double-double (Photo: Tom Gearty)

Although MIT certainly found the areas they need to improve on, the young Engineers got a glimpse of some of the weapons they have in store. High-flying 6'8" junior captain Matt Redfield, an All-Conference selection last year, led the Engineers with 14 points and 9 rebounds. Redfield comes into the season coming off a standout Sophomore campaign, posting a 59.5% FG% (3rd all-time in MIT history), 49 blocks (3rd all-time), and 26 dunks (unofficially 1st all-time).

MIT also showed how bright the future might be, with solid play from the freshman trio of 6'10" Tim Higgins, 6'8" Tim Butala, and 6'3" guard Dakota Pierce. Pierce showed his sweet stroke and his ability to get to the basket, while the "Big Tims" were a presence in the paint on both the offensive and defensive ends.

Freshman Dakota Pierce takes it to the hoop over Harvard's Jonah Travis

"We played a really good and well-coached team," Head Coach Larry Anderson said after the exhibition. "It provided us with the opportunity to measure where we are as individuals and, more importantly, where we are as a team."

"I like where we are at right now even though we understand that we have a lot to do."

The Engineers tip off the 2013-2014 season on Friday vs. Lesley University at Rockwell Cage.

Box Score

Game Preview (Exhibition): MIT vs. Harvard

MIT vs. Harvard (Exhibition Game*)
Tuesday, Lavieties Pavilion, 7pm

Video | Live Stats | Tickets
Radio: WHRB 95.3 - Cambridge

*This game counts as a regular season game for Harvard and an exhibition game for MIT due to the differences in start dates between Divisions

Junior Captain Dennis Levene drives against Harvard in last year's preseason exhibition

Possible Starters:

MIT (0-0)	Harvard (1-0)
Matt Redfield, Jr, 6'8"	Kyle Casey, Sr, 6'7"
Andrew Acker, Jr, 6'8"	Steve Moundou-Missi, Jr, 6'7"
Dennis Levene, Jr, 6'8"	Wesley Saunders, Jr, 6'5"
Justin Pedley, So, 6'6"	Brandyn Curry, Sr, 6'1"
Paul Dawson, Jr, 5'10"	Siyani Chambers, So, 6'0"

A Look at Harvard:
The Harvard Crimson were the Ivy League Champions last season, posting a 20-10 record and advancing to the 3rd Round of the Division I NCAA Tournament before falling to the University of Arizona.

Harvard started the 2013-2014 campaign off with a 82-72 win over Holy Cross at TD BankNorth Garden on Sunday. Jonah Travis scored 20 points with 10 rebounds and Wesley Saunders added 18.

Last Week at MIT...(11/10)

Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi Visits MIT

MIT Battery Startup, Funded by Bill Gates, Aims to Invent "Colossal Yet Cheap Battery"

MIT Professor and Historian Granted Major "Lifetime Achievement" Award 

MIT Researchers Selected for NASA Institute

Men's & Women's Cross-Country Win NEWMAC Championship

Fall Championship Week

Fall Championship Week is underway for the NEWMAC in various sports, with MIT in the heart of it.

Last week MIT took home the NEWMAC championship in Women's Tennis, Women's Cross Country, as well as Men's Cross Country. The women's tennis team finished the Fall slate undefeated and ranked #17 in the country. The women's cross-country team, who was ranked as high as #3 in the nation this season, captured their 7th consecutive NEWMAC title, while the men's team, ranked as high as #4 nationally, continued its reign with its 16th consecutive championship.

Below are more MIT teams that will be competing in the NEWMAC championships this weekend:

Women's Soccer
Record: 13-2
NEWMAC Semifinals Saturday

Men's Soccer
Record: 13-3
NEWMAC Semifinals Saturday

Women's Volleyball
Record: 22-10
NEWMAC Semifinals Saturday

Field Hockey
Record: 14-4
NEWMAC Semifinals Saturday

MIT Voted Best College in America by Business Insider

Business Insider's annual list of the Best Colleges in America was released this morning, with MIT earning the top spot for the 4th year in a row.

Business Insider surveyed 1,000 professionals to determine the rankings, "based on how much those schools help graduates succeed in life." As for the top spot, according to the publication, "the answer was loud and clear: MIT."

"When it comes to hiring, you can be assured that all students who graduate from MIT have been through a rigorous college curriculum" wrote one of the voters.

MIT was also ranked first by finance professionals: http://www.businessinsider.com/best-colleges-for-finance-industry-2013-10

Business Insider also noted that MIT has "one of the coolest college campuses in the country": http://www.businessinsider.com/these-two-buildings-show-why-mit-is-one-of-the-coolest-college-campuses-in-the-country-2013-11

Read more about the rankings here: http://www.businessinsider.com/best-colleges-in-america-2013-10

Last Week at MIT...(11/3)

Read up on some of the things that happened around the MIT campus last week:


Hungarian President visits MIT Media Lab...


Boston Red Sox Win World Series...


MIT Professor Has the Answer to Eliminating Mysterious Traffic Jams...


MIT Wristband Could Make Air Conditioning Obsolete...


MIT Arts Professor Wins Prestigious McDermott Award...


Women's Tennis Wins NEWMAC Championship...

MIT Basketball Lab: Day 6

MIT Basketball Lab: Day 6 from MIT Hoops

2013-2014 Season Preview

13,232. 

That is the total number of combined career minutes MIT has lost to graduation from last season ("lost" specifically to Apple - Will Tashman, Facebook - Jamie Karraker, Morgan Stanley - Jimmy Burke, and MIT's graduate school program - Noel Hollingsworth and Mitchell Kates). 

5,794 points. 91 wins. 4 NCAA Tournament appearances. A #1 National Ranking. 

With some of the best players in MIT history moving on to their new careers, the 2013-2014 Engineers will have to adhere to the principal that their predecessors so effectively utilized: 

Process. 

The Engineers wear white t-shirts instead of their practice jerseys until they feel they have truly become a "team"

Throughout the offseason and into the first eight practices of this season, the somewhat inexperienced Engineers have taken what they have learned from their older counterparts - process, attention to detail, a tenacious precision - and are attempting to take it a step further. 

As Coach Anderson has engraved into the minds of his players throughout the years, every play must be a "masterpiece." Every cut, every screen, every rebound, every loose ball must be approached with one's complete mental and physical attention. Just as a scientist breaks down their experiments into painstakingly meticulous components, or a financial analyst understands where every penny comes and goes, the MIT basketball team must break down the game like it never has before. 

Again in 2013-2014 the Engineers will be faced with a challenging schedule. They will be pitted against some of the top teams in the region during the non-conference slate, and beginning January 8th will jump right into the always-challenging NEWMAC play. 

The 2013-2014 MIT Engineers end another practice in Rockwell Cage

It has been 113 years in the making; since the day MIT Basketball shot its first basket in 1900, the team has been building upon the success of those before them. Last season's stars brought the program to new heights, and have passed on the tools to keep building. It is now in the hands of the 2013-2014 MIT Engineers to make every play, and this season, a "masterpiece."