Fisher Nips Fitchburg State, 83-81

Henneberry and Ingram-Rubin combine for 41 points in Falcons non-conference loss

FITCHBURG, Mass. (January 11, 2012) – The Fitchburg State men's basketball team suffered its second consecutive loss, falling to non-conference foe, Fisher College, 83-81 at the Fitchburg State University Recreation Center.

Fisher College received a double-double effort from senior Dennis Norford (New Haven, Conn./Wilbur Cross), who tallied a team-high 22 points and 14 rebounds, while junior Ryan McCorkle (Bellevue, Wash./Shorline CC) added 18 points and eight caroms on the evening. Sophomore Zack Pope (Orlando, Fla./UMaine-Machias) also cracked double figures for the visitors with14 points, shooting a perfect 4-of-4 at the line.

For the Falcons, sophomore Mike Ingram-Rubin (Boston, Mass./Bedford) led all Fitchburg State scorers, posting 21 points on 8-of-16 shooting, while junior Tom Henneberry (Lexington, Mass./Lexington) added a double-double effort of 20 points and ten rebounds. Sophomore Brandon Selby (Baltimore, Md./Joppatowne) neared double-digits with nine points, while adding seven boards.

In the first half, Fisher grabbed a 13 point advantage at the break (40-27), using a pair of big runs over the frame. Fisher opened the game with a strong 19-4 run, posting a 21-7 margin midway through the half, before closing the period with another surge (10-4) for a double-digit lead heading into the locker room. Norford fell just one rebound shy of posting a double-double in the first half (14 points, nine boards) to lead Fisher, while Henneberry scrapped together nine points to pace the Falcons.

Over the second half, Fitchburg State cut the Fisher lead to five on several occasions, but Fisher answered all of the Falcon rallies, holding the lead for a majority of the second period. The visitors opened a double-digit lead midway through the second half, using both a 6-1 and 9-5 rally with 7:30 remaining in regulation.

Senior Jeremy Kimber (Fitchburg, Mass./Fitchburg) cut the Fisher lead to eight, connecting for back-to-back buckets on consecutive trips down the floor, while junior Adam Fahey (Auburn, Mass./Auburn) added a trio of field goals to keep the Falcons within striking distance. Ingram-Rubin brought the Falcons within a basket (81-78), nailing a three at the 2:56 mark, before Henneberry completed the comeback, knotting the score at 81-81 with his fifth three of the night.

Down the stretch, Fisher reclaimed its lead, using a pair of McCorkle free-throws for an 83-81 advantage. The Falcons did not go quietly, creating several scoring opportunities in the final 0:18,  but a couple long-range attempts did not fall to give Fisher its fourth  victory of the year.

Fitchburg State (8-4, 0-1 MASCAC) is back in action on Saturday as it travels to Framingham State at 3 p.m. Fisher (4-16, 1-6 AMC) will host Wilberforce College on Saturday at 3 p.m.