NORTON, Mass. – Junior Michael Zhang scored a game-high 20 points to lead the MIT men's basketball team to a 60-55 NEWMAC victory over Wheaton College on Saturday afternoon at Emerson Gymnasium.

The Engineers rallied from a five-point halftime deficit to lead by as many as 13 points in the second half before holding off a late Wheaton charge over the final three minutes.

THE BASICS:

• Score: MIT 60, Wheaton 55 
• Records: MIT 5-8 overall (1-3 NEWMAC), Wheaton 9-4 overall (2-2 NEWMAC) 

HOW IT HAPPENED:

• Little separated the two sides in the first half, as Wheaton built a five-point halftime lead thanks to an 8-3 run over the final 3:45 of the first half. 
• MIT trailed 29-24 at halftime but scored the first seven points after the break, with Zhang knocking down a triple at 17:13 that put the Engineers ahead, 31-29.
• The Engineers and the Lyons played to a pair of tie scores over the next minute of play before MIT took control of the contest. With the game tied 32-32 after Sal Pedevillano hit 1-of-2 free throws for Wheaton at 16:16, MIT used an 11-0 run over the next three-plus minutes of play to take a 43-32 lead following a jumper from Isaac Dobie at 12:41. 
• MIT extended its lead to 12 points by the 6:59 mark of the second when Parker Spann hit the second of two free throws to make the score 48-36.
• The Engineers continued to lead by double-figures past the five-minute mark of the second half, as two free throws from Wyatt Mowery at 5:04 put the visitors ahead 55-42.
• With MIT holding its largest lead of the game, Wheaton made a push over the final five minutes.
• The Lyons used a 12-3 run to trim the deficit all the way down to three. Pedevillano capped the run with a three at 1:32 that made the score 58-55 but Wheaton would not get any closer.
• Wheaton came-up empty handed on its next possession as Nick Scandura was off the mark from three-point range.  
• Zhang then hit on a pair of free throws in the final seconds of the contest to seal the 60-55 MIT victory and game-high points for the junior.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS:

• The win was the first NEWMAC victory for head coach B.J. Dunne, as MIT snapped a seven-game skid with the victory. 
• Zhang matched his season high with 20 points while adding four rebounds, three assists and a steal.  
• Mowery added 11 points, eight rebounds, two blocks, an assist and a steal, while Spann scored 10 points and added four rebounds and two assists.  
• Wheaton senior Eoin Morrissey and junior Dimetri Iafrate each scored 18 points, with Morrissey adding eight rebounds, two steals, and two blocks.
• Iafrate added three assists, three rebounds, three steals and a blocked shot.  
• MIT shot 20-for 54 (37%) for the game while Wheaton countered at 32.1% (17-for-53). 
• MIT finished the contest with a 39-34 advantage on the glass. 

UP NEXT:

• MIT returns home to Rockwell Cage on Tuesday evening for a 6:30 PM NEWMAC contest versus Emerson. 

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