Williams finished the game with 28 points and 14 rebounds, both career highs. He made 11-of-15 from the field and converted on 6-of-7 from the free throw stripe in leading Mount Ida to its second win in as many chances.
The Mustangs opened with a flurry, connecting on their first three attempts from behind the arc, as they built an early 12-0 advantage. Thomas answered with a 19-5 run to take its first lead (19-17) of the game with 12:00 remaining in the first half, but Mount Ida regained the lead on a pair of Williams free throws one minute later. Williams scored 16 of his 28 points in the opening stanza to help the Mustangs to a 38-34 halftime edge.
A layup by freshman Otis Thompson (Gardner, Mass./Gardner) put Mount Ida in front 49-41, but the Terriers refused to go away, as they scored the game’s next ten points to take a 51-49 lead with 12:56 remaining in regulation. From there it was all Mustangs though, as the hosts exploded for 45 points down the stretch to pull away.
Mount Ida sizzled in the second half, shooting 64.7% (22-34) from the field, including 66.7% (6-9) from three-point range. For the game the Mustangs shot 52.3% (34-65), making half (9-18) of their three-point attempts.
Junior Andreas Vasiliu (Newton, Mass./Newton North) and senior captain Matt McGaughran (Taunton, Mass./Coyle & Cassidy) posted solid all-around efforts for the hosts. Vasiliu drilled all three of his three-point attempts en route to a 14-point afternoon. He added seven rebounds and five assists, while McGaughran totaled 11 points, six boards and five helpers. Freshman Andy McCoo (Penacook, N.H./Merrimack Valley) registered 13 points, five rebounds and four assists, and senior Scott Chamberlain (Millis, Mass./Millis) notched ten points to round out Mount Ida’s double-digit scorers. Thompson chipped in with a squad-best four blocked shots for the Mustangs.
Thomas was paced by freshman Aecio Madeira, who registered a double-double on 15 points and 14 rebounds to go with a game-best six blocks. Classmate Stephen Sibley and junior Chad Gray came off the bench to score 18 and 20 points respectively, while senior Dan Grappi chipped in with eight points and a club-high five assists for the Terriers.
Mount Ida (3-11, 2-4 NAC) wraps up its three-game homestand versus non-conference foe Gordon College on Wednesday at 6:00 p.m. Thomas (2-9, 0-3 NAC) will also be in action on Wednesday, when it visits the Maine Maritime Academy for a league tilt beginning at 5:30 p.m.