Collecting their first conference win of the season, the Lyons improve to 10-5 overall and 1-2 in the NEWMAC, while the Engineers fall to 9-6 on the year and 2-2 in league play.
MIT took an early 2-0 lead and an 11-9 edge with 13:55 remaining, but Wheaton's Scott Mahan (Bridgewater, MA/Cardinal Spellman) hit a lay-up followed by an ensuing free throw to give the Lyons a 12-11 edge and a lead that would not be relinquished. The Engineers only trailed 22-20 at the 9:50 minute mark, but Wheaton used a 20-6 run over the next six plus minutes to pull away from MIT.
The Lyons were clicking on all cylinders, spearheaded by senior Frankie Whall's (Roslindale, MA/Cheshire Academy) eight points during that spurt, all of which were assisted lay-up's. In fact, 12 of Wheaton's 16 first-half field goals were credited with assists, as the Lyons shot .571 (16-18 FG) from the field and a blistering .933 (14-15 FT) from the foul line. Holding a 48-31 lead at the intermission, Vega had 18 points and four assists, while Whall and Mahan added 12 and 10 points, respectively.
In the second half, MIT began to surge with five straight points to open the stanza, including a three from senior Andrew Tsai (Pittsburgh, PA/Chapel Hill) and a jumper from junior Mike Huhs (Mercer Island, WA/Mercer Island), as the Engineers cut the deficit to 48-36 with 19:01 to play. MIT pulled to within 52-41 with 17:25 on the clock, but the hosts then reeled off nine unanswered points to take a 20-point lead. The visitors again got as close as 11 at 74-63 off of a three by sophomore Mike D'Auria (Newton, MA/Newton South), but it proved to be too little too late.
Vega surpassed the 30-point plateau for the third time this season. Mahan finished with 17 points, including a perfect 10-of-10 from the free throw line, six rebounds, three blocks and two assists, while Whall added 15 points, a team-high tying seven rebounds, five assists and four blocks.
Senior forward Kyle Doherty (Duxbury, MA/Duxbury) led MIT with 14 points and a game-best 10 rebounds, while D'Auria finished with 10 points, five assists and three steals.
The Lyons will look to make it three straight wins on Tuesday, when Wheaton welcomes Babson College for a conference contest slated to begin at 7:00 p.m. With a win Tuesday, head coach Brian Walmsley will reach his 100th career victory in this his seventh season at the helm of the program.
Newspaper Box Score MIT vs Wheaton College 1/24/04 2:00 p.m. at Emerson Gymnasium, Norton, Mass. At Emerson Gymnasium, Norton, Mass. WHEATON COLLEGE 78, MIT 65 MIT (9-6) Kyle Doherty 7-12 0-0 14; Mike D'Auria 4-11 1-1 10; Andrew Tsai 3-8 0-0 9; Mike Huhs 4-6 1-1 9; Adam Gibbons 2-11 3-3 8; Gary Atkins 3-5 0-1 6; Evans Boney 1-3 2-2 4; Phil Murray 2-6 0-0 4; Ryan Richardson 0-3 1-2 1; Jarrod Pierce 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 26-66 8-10 65. WHEATON COLLEGE (10-5) Josean Vega 12-22 7-10 33; Scott Mahan 3-6 10-10 17; Frankie Whall 6-14 3-6 15; Mike Stanton 2-4 0-0 6; Richard Henninger 1-1 2-2 4; Mark Ledwell 1-2 1-2 3; James Greenslit 0-4 0-0 0. Totals 25-53 23-30 78. MIT........................... 31 34 - 65 Wheaton College............... 48 30 - 78 3-point goals-MIT 5-18 (Andrew Tsai 3-8; Adam Gibbons 1-6; Mike D'Auria 1-3; Ryan Richardson 0-1), Wheaton College 5-19 (Mike Stanton 2-4; Josean Vega 2-8; Scott Mahan 1-2; James Greenslit 0-2; Frankie Whall 0-3). Fouled out--MIT-None, Wheaton College-None. Rebounds-MIT 32 (Kyle Doherty 10), Wheaton College 40 (Mark Ledwell 7; Frankie Whall 7). Assists-MIT 15 (Mike D'Auria 5), Wheaton College 18 (Frankie Whall 5). Total fouls-MIT 22, Wheaton College 12. A-225