Fitchburg State Holds Off Mount Ida, 66-65

Selby lifts Falcons to seventh victory of the season with a team-best 18 points

FITCHBURG, Mass. (December 6, 2011) – Sophomore Brandon Selby (Baltimore, Md./Joppatowne) registered a game-high 18 points as the Fitchburg State University men's basketball team held off Mount Ida College, 66-65 in non-conference action this evening.

Selby led all Falcon scorers, hitting for 12 of his 18 points in the first half. The sophomore guard shot 8-of-13 from the field, while adding three rebounds over 23 minutes of work. Junior Tom Henneberry (Lexington, Mass./Lexington) was also solid in his return to the hardwood, totaling 15 points, four boards, six assists and four steals, while classmate Adam Fahey (auburn, Mass./Auburn) hit double-figures with 11 points and three caroms.

Fitchburg State jumped out to a commanding 28-14 lead midway through the first half, using a 16-6 run over a strong ten minute span. The Falcons continued their hot shooting, stretching their lead to as much as 17 (40-23) with just under three minutes remaining in the half, but the Mustangs closed the half strong with a 6-1 run to trail by only 12 at the break.

In the second half, Mount Ida stormed back, using a 9-0 run to open the frame and cut its deficit to only three. The Mustangs dominated the paint in the opening minutes, ripping off, four consecutive baskets down low, and later brought the Falcon lead down to only one (45-44) as Special Rhodes (Hartford, Conn./New London) connected with a jumper at the 12:45 mark.

Following the Rhodes bucket, Fitchburg State answered with an 8-0 run, extending its lead to nine with 8:04 on the clock. Hennebery and senior Rolffi Canela (Perth Amboy, N.J./Cardinal McCarrick) ignited the run with back-to-back buckets, while junior Mark Vickers (Boston, Mass./Snowden International) capped the rally with a lay-up following his block down the other end.

Mount Ida did not go quietly however, bringing the game to just a one point shootout with 0:29 remaining in regulation. (63-62). The Falcons put the pressure on the Mustangs with three consecutive free-throws from Mike Ingram-Rubin (Boston, Mass./Bedford) and Henneberry to grab a four point advantage with 0:05 on the clock. Isiah Benjamin's (Windsor, Conn./Masters School) last ditch three-pointer found the bottom of the net with time expiring to end any end of game heroics for Mount Ida.

Senior Travis Hillery (Tyngsboro, Mass./Central Catholic) led the Mustangs offensively, scoring a game-high 21 points on 7-of-14 shooting from the field, while adding 18 rebounds to complete his double-double effort. Senior Keith Jones (Boston, Mass./Lake Brantley) added 17 points on the night, while Benjamin finished with 12 for the visitors.

Fitchburg State (7-1, 0-0 MASCAC) will be in action again on Saturday as it visits WPI at 2 p.m. Mount Ida (3-3, 0-1 GNAC) travels to Anna Maria College on Thursday at 7:30 p.m