Fitchburg State Holds Off Fisher, 81-80

Valliere collects second consecutive double-double in Falcons non-conference win 

FITCHBURG, Mass. (December 7, 2010) – Junior Zach Valliere (Douglas, Mass./Douglas) collected his second consecutive double-double as Fitchburg State held off Fisher College, 81-80 in non-conference action this evening.

For the second straight contest, Valliere led the Falcons with 18 points, hitting 4-of-8 from the floor and 10-of-12 from the free throw line for his second double-double of the season. Senior Elliot Knower (Baldwinville, Mass./Narragansett) was also strong with a team-best 19 points and nine boards, while junior Jeremy Kimber (Fitchburg, Mass./Fitchburg) added 12 points with 5-of-9 shooting from the field.

Senior Casey Pursell (Seattle, Wash./Nathan Hale) led Fisher's offense, totaling a game-high 22 points as the veteran captain hit 9-of-19 from the field. Junior Dennis Norford (New Haven, Conn./Wilbur Cross) also shot well on the evening, hitting 9-of-13 from the floor for 19 points and nine rebounds, while senior Louis Williams (Burlington, Vt./Burlington) and classmate Oscar Brown (Buffalo, N.Y./Bennett) chipped in with 15 and 14 points respectively.

After trailing in the first half 45-40, Fitchburg State came out firing in the second, shooting 57.1% from the field and 50.0% from three point range to earn their second victory of the season. The Falcons used a 15-8 run in the opening six minutes to knot the score at 55-55 and later busted for a 7-2 rally, taking a six point margin (72-66) with 6:35 remaining in the contest.

Fisher did not go quietly however, posting back-to-back buckets from Norford and Brown in the closing minute to tie the score at 80-80. Following a Fitchburg State turnover, Fisher possessed the ball with less than 0:30 on the clock, but an over the back foul with only 0:02 remaining put Fitchburg State at the line to clinch the game. Valliere capped his stellar evening, hitting 1 of his 2 attempts and securing the win for Fitchburg State.

In the second half, Fitchburg State limited Fisher to 0.0% shooting from three point range (0-of-8), while connecting on 16 of their 28 attempts in the period. Junior Stephen Verdi (Revere, Mass./Malden) sparked the Falcons off the bench with eight points in the stanza, while Valliere dropped ten of his 18 in the frame.

Fitchburg State (2-6, 0-0 MASCAC) will be in action again on Thursday as it travels to Mount Ida at 6 p.m. Fisher (2-9, 0-0 SC) will host The New School at 7 p.m.

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Fitchburg State 81, Fisher 80