PLYMOUTH, N.H. – Senior
Eli Pockette (Rutland, Vt.) poured in a game-high 21 points to help Plymouth State University hold off the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 84-77, in a non-conference men's basketball game at Foley Gymnasium on Tuesday afternoon.
Pockette shot 6-for-8 from the field and buried three three-pointers, chipping in six assists and three rebounds. Graduate student
Quinton Partee, Jr. (Atlanta, Ga.) added 18 points on 7-of-14 shooting, along with four rebounds and four assists, while senior
Cam Nell (James Island, S.C.) and junior
Brady Hulland (Amston, Conn.) also finished in double figures with 13 and 12 points, respectively.
MIT held a five-point lead through the first five-plus minutes, but the Panthers responded with a run of their own, building a nine-point advantage before taking a 42-40 lead into halftime.
The second half remained tight throughout, with neither team leading by more than four points until Nell's layup made it 68-63 with five minutes remaining. Pockette hit a pair of free throws to extend the lead to 75-66 with just under three minutes remaining, and the Panthers converted at the free throw line down the stretch to seal the victory.
Plymouth State improves to 2-0, while MIT starts 0-1.
The Basics:
- Plymouth State 84, MIT 77
- Plymouth State (2-0)
- MIT (0-1)
How it Happened:
- Pockette drilled a three-pointer off the opening tip, but MIT went on a 12-4 run over the next five minutes.
- Partee scored five straight points and junior Zachary Watson (Mississauga, Ontario) connected from distance to give the Panthers a 16-12 lead with 14 minutes remaining in the half.
- The Engineers went up by three midway through the first half, but a 10-2 PSU run saw the Panthers go back ahead, 29-24, with eight minutes left before halftime.
- Pockette's three-pointer extended the margin to 38-29 with three minutes remaining, but MIT closed the half on an 11-4 run, including a three-pointer just before the buzzer, to pull within 42-40 at halftime.
- The game remained within four points for much of the second half. Nell got to the basket to give the Panthers a five-point cushion, and moments later Hulland connected from beyond the arc. Pockette followed with two free throws to extend the lead to 75-66 with 2:48 remaining.
- MIT pulled within 76-71 with a free throw with a minute remaining, but the Panthers went 6-for-8 from the charity stripe down the stretch, and Nell sealed the win with an emphatic dunk in the closing seconds.
By the Numbers:
- Pockette's 21 points were one shy of his career high. He finished 6-for-8 from the field, 3-for-5 from beyond the arc and a perfect 6-for-6 at the free throw line. He also dished out a game-high six assists without committing a turnover.
- Partee went 7-for-14 from the floor for 18 points, four rebounds and four assists.
- Nell finished 6-for-9 from the field for his 13 points and added five rebounds, while Hulland connected on two three-pointers to finish with 12 points, six rebounds, two assists and two blocks.
- Senior Ivan Yen (Concord, N.H.) also pulled down six rebounds to go with six points and four assists.
- Plymouth State shot 30-for-60 (50.0%) as a team and recorded 20 assists.
- The Panthers held a 33-30 rebounding advantage, including 12-8 on the offensive glass.
- PSU owned a 14-3 edge in second chance points and a 23-12 lead in fast break points.
- The game featured seven ties and 12 lead changes.
- The only other meeting between the two teams came in March 2006 – a 60-55 home win for the Engineers.
Up Next:
- Plymouth State visits Kean Jersey City on Saturday (Nov. 14) for a 1 p.m. contest.
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