NEWPORT, R.I - An early second half run boosted Salve Regina in a 75-67 NEWMAC victory over the MIT men's basketball on Wednesday evening at Rodgers Recreation Center. The Engineers led by a single point at the break and the score stayed within two possessions for much of the contest.

MIT sophomore Merlin Gogolin (New York, N.Y.) lead the team with 18 points on 7-of-9 shooting. Junior Rome Delgado-Gonzalez (Miami, Fla.) tacked on 16 points. with a pair of made threes in addition to four assists and three steals.

THE BASICS:

• Scores: Salve Regina 75, MIT 67
• Records: MIT (7-5 Overall, 1-2 NEWMAC), Salve Regina (4-8 Overall, 1-2 NEWMAC)

HOW IT HAPPENED:

• After an opening seven minutes with neither team up by more than one possession, Salve Regina senior Declan Walmsley (Franklin, Mass.) connected on a layup to give the Seahawks a 12-7 advantage.
• MIT stayed within four points for the remainder of the half. MIT claimed its first lead since 2-0 when sophomore Wyatt Mowery (Winston-Salem, N.C.) dropped in a layup with eight seconds remaining to give the Engineers a 29-28 scoreline after one half.
• The parity between the two teams continued into the early portion of the second half, including eight points in a three minute span from Gogolin.
• At 46-46 with 11:22 left to play, the Seahawks went on an 8-0 run, eventually halted when Delgado-Gonzalez converted a four-point play to make it 54-50.
• Salve Regina's margin hit double-digits for the first time at 60-50 with the clock showing 8:02 remaining. MIT responded with five straight points before the teams alternated baskets.
• Delgado-Gonzalez trimmed Salve's lead down to a single point at 65-64 with just 98 seconds to go. A Jojo Powers (Dedham, Mass.) free throw and a Walmsley basket put the Seahawks back in charge, 68-64.
• MIT was unable to get back within a possession, with Walmsley going 4-for-4 at the charity stripe in the final minute to close out a 75-67 game.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS:

• Four MIT student-athletes reached double figures in scoring. In addition to Gogolin and Delgado-Gonzalez, junior Tim Minicozzi (Belmont, Mass.) and senior Spencer Lin (Menlo Park, Calif.) both hit the mark.
• Lin and Powers each topped their respective teams with six assists.
• Powers led all individuals with 25 points for the Seahawks, connecting on 6-of-7 shots from behind the arc.
• Salve Regina shot 25-for-55 (45.5%) as a team and won the battle of the boards 43-32.

UP NEXT:

• Each team is back in action against NEWMAC competition on Saturday, January 11. MIT will host Babson College at 2:00 PM while Salve Regina travels to Springfield College for a 1:00 PM tip-off.