#23 WPI Storms Past Fitchburg State, 78-63

Valliere collects third double-double of the season with 13 points and 14 boards

FITCHBURG, Mass. (December 11, 2010) – Junior Zach Valliere (Douglas, Mass./Douglas) collected his third double-double of the season in a losing effort for the Falcons as #23 WPI defeated Fitchburg State, 78-63 in non-conference action this afternoon.

Junior Jerome Stewart (Bloomfield, Conn./Northwest Catholic) erupted for 17 points in just 12 minutes of action to spark nationally ranked WPI while senior Jeffrey Robinson (Granby, Conn./Granby) led all players with 18 points.

Trailing 10-9 six minutes into the contest, WPI rattled off nine straight points on a pair of Stewart baskets, a David White Jr. (Worcester, Mass./St. John’s) layup and a Kyle Nadeau (Webster, Mass./Bartlett) three-pointer to seize a lead it would not relinquish. The Engineers took a 36-23 advantage into the locker room at the half, holding the Falcons to 26.7% (8-30) shooting from the field.    

Valliere paced the Fitchburg State attack with his third double-double of the season. The junior center tossed in 13 points and hauled in 14 rebounds, including 11 on the defensive glass. Classmate Stephen Verdi (Revere, Mass./Malden) gave the Falcons a lift off the bench with 15 points while junior Jeremy Kimber (Fitchburg, Mass./Fitchburg) chipped in with ten points on 5-of-7 shooting from the floor.

The Crimson and Gray proved opportunistic, parlaying 26 Falcon turnovers into 27 points. Fitchburg State shot 51.7% from the floor throughout the second half, but the WPI offense answered the call, hitting 17-of-38 from the field and 7-of-8 from the free-throw line.

Fitchburg State (3-7, 0-0 MASCAC) is back in action on January 4th, hosting Anna Maria at 7:30pm. WPI (7-2, 0-0 NEWMAC) will visit Western Connecticut State on Tuesday, December 28th for a match starting at 6 p.m.

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WPI 78, Fitchburg State 63