Johnson Scores 1000th Point, MIT Rolls

MIT opened up a double-digit lead on Babson in less than 10 minutes and never looked backed, cruising to a 67-49 win tonight at Rockwell Cage. MIT was paced again by Noel Hollingsworth, who scored 21 points (7-12 FG), grabbed 8 rebounds, and had 2 blocks. Mitchell Kates added 11 points and 6 assists, while Billy Bender also got into double figures with 10 points. The night, however, belonged to Billy Johnson, who scored his 1000th career point five minutes into the second half. Johnson is the 23rd player in MIT history to score 1000 career points.

The game started out slowly, with Babson leading 4-2 three-and-a-half minutes into the game. However, MIT went on a quick 7 point run to take the lead, which they would never surrender. The game would reamin in single digits over the next 5 minutes of action, but MIT would stretch their lead to 11 just 9.5 minutes into the game. The lead would extend to 18 on multiple occasions, including at the half, as the Engineers headed to the break up 39-21.

The second half started with an MIT run, as they stretched the lead to 27 just 5 minutes into the half, 50-23. The last three points in that run was on a three-pointer by Johnson, which put him exactly at 1000 points for his career. MIT would lead by 20+ points rest of the half, until a 6-0 Babson run to end the game cut the lead to 18, with the final score 67-49.

MIT held Babson to just 35% shooting, with no player scoring in double-figures. MIT shot nearly 60% as a team from the floor and 70% from the three (7-10).

MIT improves to 19-2 overall and 7-1 in NEWMAC play. MIT now has a week off before hosting Clark on February 10 at 8:00 pm.

MIT Ranked #2 in First NCAA Northeast Region Poll

The NCAA released the first of four regular season regional rankings today and MIT was rewarded for their tremendous start to the season. MIT is currently slotted #2 in the northeast, with a regional record of 16-1, and only trail Williams in the rankings, who is undefeated in the region. The full rankings can be found at:

NCAA Week 1 Regional Rankings

MIT Moves up to #12 in D3hoops.com Poll

After picking up two conference road wins this past week, MIT has moved up two spots to #12 in the newest D3hoops.com rankings. This marks the seventh consecutive week that MIT has appeared in the polls.

MIT appeared in the poll for the first time ever in this year's week 3 poll and have remained in the poll ever since. MIT reached their peak position in the poll two week's ago, at #8, before falling to #14 last week after losing their first game to a DIII opponent. They are currently 18-2 overall and 17-1 in DIII, the best start in the program's history.

Hollingsworth Named NEWMAC POW

For the fourth time this season, sophomore Noel Hollingsworth has been named the NEWMAC Player of the Week. He has won the award four out of the eight weeks the award has been given out this year.

Hollingsworth averaged 23 points and 5.5 rebounds per game this week, helping lead MIT to two conference road victories. In their win at Coast Guard last Wednesday, Hollingsworth poured in 25 points on 10-13 shooting, adding 7 rebounds, 3 asssists, and 2 blocks. Then on Sunday at WPI, Hollinsgworth again led all scorers with 21 points on 9-13 shooting, as MIT swept the regular season series with WPI for the first time in seven years.

For the season, Hollingsworth is averaging 20.5 ppg, 8.7 rpg, and 1.6 bpg, while shooing 58.2% from the field.

MIT Sweeps WPI, Now at 18-2

Strong shooting down the stretch secured a 74-66 win for MIT at WPI this afternoon. MIT was led with 21 points by Noel Hollingsworth (9-13 FG), 16 points from Mitchell Kates, 15 points by Jimmy Burke (4-5 FG, 3-4 3FG), and 12 from Billy Bender. The team shot exceptionally for the game (26-45 FG, 58%), especially from three point land (9-16, 60%), and the free throw line (13-15). This marks the first time in 7 years that MIT has swept the regular season series against WPI.

The game started out very competitive, MIT rushed out to an early 6-2 lead, but WPI responded with an 8-0 run of their own to take a 10-6 advantage five minutes into the game. Both teams continued to trade baskets for the next few minutes, until MIT went on a 6-0 run to take the lead 19-14 at the 10 minute mark. WPI immediately responded with a run of their own and tied the game at 19-19 in less than one minute of play. The teams continued going back and forth the rest of the half, MIT again pushed the lead to 5 with under five minutes to play only to see WPI tie it again with less than a minute to go in the half. Mitch Kates would make a runner on MIT's last posession to send MIT up two at the half, 32-30.

MIT started the half by stretching their lead to 7 about three minutes in, but they still could not shake WPI. A conventional three-point play followed by a three-pointer by WPI cut the MIT lead to 1 in just 35 seconds, 41-40. MIT would quickly regain the momentum, however, going on a 13-2 run, 8 of which came from point guard Mitchell Kates, to stretch the lead to 54-42 about half-way through the second half. WPI again went on a spurt, scoring 7 straight points in 1.5 minutes to cut the MIT lead to 5. Both teams battled for the next seven minutes, with MIT's lead fluctuating between 5 and 10 points, until WPI went on a 6-0 run to cut the lead to 3, 64-67, with under 1 minute to play. On their next posession, MIT went to their bread-and-butter in the post and were rewarded with a layup by Noel Hollingsworth to push the lead to 5. MIT would make their free throws from their to close out the game, winning 74-66.

MIT improves to 18-2, and 6-1 in NEWMAC play, with the win. They currently sit atop the NEWMAC standings by 1 game and are ranked #14 nationally in the latest D3hoops.com poll. MIT hosts Babson next Wednesday at 7:00 PM in Rockwell Cage.

MIT Cruises Past Coast Guard, Now 17-2

MIT turned a single-digit halftime lead into a comfortable win with an early run in the second half. MIT improves to 17-2 overall and 5-1 in NEWMAC play.

The game started off with both teams going back and forth for the first couple of minutes, before MIT went on a 14-4 run to go up 18-9 5 minutes into the action. MIT held the margin right around double digits for the next 10+ minutes, before building their lead to its largest of the first half, at 43-30, with 3 minutes to go. Coast Guard ended the half in a flurry, however, going on a 7-0 run to cut the lead to 6 with just 12 second to play in the half, but a last second shot by Noel Hollingsworth increased the lead back up to 8 points at the half.

The second half was all MIT, as they went on a 16-4 run in the first 8 minutes to blow the game open 61-41. The game would not be close the rest of the game as MIT won by the same margin, 78-58.

MIT was again led by Noel Hollingsworth, who scored 25 points on 10-13 shooting, adding 7 boards. Will Tashman continued his solid play, finishing one point shy of a double-double, with 9 points and 12 rebounds. Billy Johnson and Jimmy Burke both came alive, scoring 12 and 14 points, respectively, behind four three-pointers a piece. Mitch Kates was again stellar at the point, adding 14 points on 5-9 shooting.

MIT returns to action on Saturday as they travel to WPI to face the other Engineers in the NEWMAC. MIT handed WPI their worst loss of the season on January 13, 76-53. It was the first win for MIT over WPI in 7 years. Tip is set for 1 PM.

MIT Ranked #14 in New D3Hoops Poll

MIT is ranked for the 6th consecutive week in the D3hoops.com national poll (and the 6th time in the school's history), checking in at #14 this week. MIT fell 6 spots after their first loss of the season to a DIII opponent.

MIT will look to get back on track Wednesday as they travel to Connecticut to face Coast Guard for a 7:30 tip.

MIT Ranked 11th in DIII by Massey RPI Rankings

MIT reached their highest ranking of the season in the Massey RPI BCS-style ratings, reaching 11th, the highest ranking of any team in the northeast. The BCS style rankings do not take into account margin of victory (MOV). In the MOV rankings, MIT was ranked 15th in all of DIII for games through January 20th.

MIT Loses First DIII Contest

MIT lost its first game to a DIII opponent this afternoon, falling to Wheaton College 60-57. MIT trailed for most of the afternoon, but took a 4 point with under 5 minutes in the contest before going cold and handing over the lead in the final 1.5 minutes of the game. Will Tashmen had a strong afternoon for the Engineers, scoring 15 points on 6-8 shooting, also adding 9 rebounds and 4 steals. Billy Bender also played well with 12 points and 12 rebounds, while Mitchell Kates also added 15 points.

The game was close the first 12 minutes of the game, with neither team leading by more then 5 points. Wheaton then went on a 17-8 run to stretch the lead to 10 with 3 minutes to play in the first half. MIT would answer, however, finishing the half on a 7-0 run to enter the break down 3, 31-34.

MIT again started cold in the second frame, allowing 7 straight points by Wheaton in the first 3 minutes of the half. Again the Engineers rallied, going on a 9-0 run to cut the lead to 40-41 with under 12 minutes to play. The teams went back and forth over the next few minutes, until MIT took their first lead, 54-52, with under 6 minutes to play. MIT would increase the lead to 4 on their next posession, but went cold from their, not scoring over a decisive 4.5 minute span that ended in a layup by Mitchell Kates with :24 seconds left. MIT had a chance to send the game to overtime, but a three pointer by Billy Bender was off the mark and Wheaton secured the rebound to take the win, 60-57.

MIT is on the road next week in two conference matchups. MIT drops to 16-2 (4-1 NEWMAC). They still hold the top spot in the NEWMAC, though, as Springfield fell to WPI today (both teams are now 3-2 in conference).

Strong Start, Finish Leads MIT Over Springfield

MIT received strong play from their post players, en route to a 67-56 win over visiting Springfield. Both teams entered the game 3-0 in the NEWMAC, but MIT takes over sole posession of first in the conference with the victory. Noel Hollingsworth led MIT with 25 points (8-12 FG), 10 rebounds, and 3 blocks. Will Tashmen also contributed strong post play, scoring 12 points (5-6 FG) and 9 rebounds. Billy Bender contributed 10 points and 8 rebounds, Mitchell Kates had 10 points, and Jimmy Burke had 9 points.

MIT came out of the gate very quickly, rushing out to a 10-2 lead. MIT lead by as many as 12 with just under 11 minutes to play in the half, but Springfield slowly began to chip away. Over the next 5 minutes Springfield cut the MIT lead to 2, but 3 three-pointers in a 1 minute span by Jimmy Burke pushed the lead back to double-digits. Springfield ended the half strong, pulling to within 4 points behind a 9-2 run.

The tight game continued into the second half, with MIT leading by no more than two posessions for the first six minutes of the second half. Springfield finally broke through, taking their only lead of the game with 13:41 left, 42-41. MIT retook the lead shortly after, but the teams still played close until about the 6 minute mark, until MIT finished the game on a 13-6 run. MIT shot 11-14 from the FT line in the last 8 minutes of the game, helping secure the win.

MIT improves to 16-1 overall and a perfect 15-0 in DIII play. MIT returns to NEWMAC action on Saturday at 1:00 PM, hosting Wheaton College.