MIT controlled the tempo early, as freshman Billy Johnson (Mukilteo, WA/Kamiak) tallied five quick points and the visitors grabbed the first six rebounds of the contest, but Wheaton rallied from an 11-4 deficit with a 7-0 run to knot the game at 14:05. Junior Brian Zukowski (Dracut, MA/Dracut) was instrumental in the comeback, turning a steal into a hoop by freshman Kristopher Pedra (Avon, CT/Avon) and converting a three-point play to tie it.
After three ties over the first 12 minutes, the Lyons took their first lead at 19-17 with 7:47 remaining on senior James Greenslit's (Framingham, MA/Rivers School) three-pointer from the left side. Just 37 seconds later, MIT freshman Adam Juneau (Los Angeles, CA/Crenshaw) tipped in the game-tying basket, and senior Mike D'Auria (Newton, MA/Newton South) converted consecutive backdoor passes into hoops to give the Engineers a 23-19 lead with 5:33 to go. However, Zukowski heated up during the final 2:08 of the period, canning a pair of threes and scooping in a driving lay-up with 43 seconds on the clock, sending the teams into the locker room deadlocked at 30.
Pedra and Greenslit hit back-to-back three-pointers early in the second half, and Greenslit provided another bucket and an assist as the Lyons hit four of their first seven second-half shots to take a 42-34 lead by 16:10. From there, MIT senior Danny Kanamori (Brookline, MA/Brookline) provided five quick points, and D'Auria nailed a long-distance shot at 13:58 to tie the score at 44.
During the remainder of the contest, neither squad led by more than five points as the teams traded the lead nine times, including on six consecutive possessions over the final 3:03. Sophomore Brent DiGiovanna (Hanover, MA/Hanover) gave Wheaton its final lead at 66-65 on a lay-in with 2:13 to go, but D'Auria knocked down a jumper at 1:09. After D'Auria hit a runner and staked MIT to a 69-66 advantage with 16 seconds remaining, the Engineers missed a free throw with five seconds left, but the Blue and White's last-second three-point attempt rattled off the rim.
Zukowski led all Lyons with 14 points while recording four assists and a pair of steals, and sophomore Eric Johnston (South Windsor, CT/East Catholic) hit 5-of-8 shots for 13 points. Greenslit finished with 12 points, DiGiovanna went 5-of-6 from the field for 10 points, and senior Sean Kelly (Providence, RI/Wheeler School) contributed seven assists and three steals.
D'Auria tallied game highs of 25 points and 11 rebounds while recording three steals. Senior Phil Murray (Winchester, MA/Winchester) added 11 points off the bench, and Kanamori finished with 10 points. The Engineers held a 38-24 advantage on the glass.
The Lyons hit the court again on Tuesday when they host Springfield College in a 7:30 p.m. NEWMAC contest.
Newspaper Box Score MIT vs Wheaton College 1/7/06 2:00 p.m. at Emerson Gymnasium, Norton, Mass. At Emerson Gymnasium, Norton, Mass. MIT 69, WHEATON COLLEGE 66 MIT (9-2, 2-0) Mike D'Auria 9-17 5-6 25; Phil Murray 4-7 3-3 11; Danny Kanamori 4-6 0-0 10; Jimmy Bartolotta 3-8 0-1 6; Alex Krull 2-4 2-3 6; Billy Johnson 2-4 0-0 5; Adam Juneau 1-3 2-2 4; Hamidou Soumare 1-3 0-0 2; Gary Atkins 0-0 0-0 0; Bradley Gampel 0-2 0-0 0. Totals 26-54 12-15 69. WHEATON COLLEGE (9-3, 1-1) Brian Zukowski 5-16 2-3 14; Eric Johnston 5-8 2-3 13; James Greenslit 4-7 2-4 12; Brent DiGiovanna 5-6 0-0 10; Kristopher Pedra 3-7 0-0 8; Sean Kelly 1-7 3-4 5; Ryan McDonough 1-2 1-2 3; David Harding 0-1 1-2 1; Jake Otto 0-0 0-0 0; Patrick McDonough 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 24-55 11-18 66. MIT........................... 30 39 - 69 Wheaton College............... 30 36 - 66 3-point goals-MIT 5-12 (Mike D'Auria 2-4; Danny Kanamori 2-3; Billy Johnson 1-2; Jimmy Bartolotta 0-3), Wheaton College 7-24 (Kristopher Pedra 2-5; James Greenslit 2-4; Brian Zukowski 2-10; Eric Johnston 1-2; Sean Kelly 0-3). Fouled out--MIT-None, Wheaton College-None. Rebounds-MIT 38 (Mike D'Auria 11), Wheaton College 24 (Brent DiGiovanna 4; Sean Kelly 4). Assists-MIT 12 (Mike D'Auria 3), Wheaton College 14 (Sean Kelly 7). Total fouls-MIT 18, Wheaton College 16. A-200