Falcons Edged By Judges, 73-70

Perez nets game-best 24 points for Falcons in non-conference setback 

Waltham, Mass. – The Fitchburg State University men's basketball team dropped a tough 73-70 decision to the Judges of Brandeis University in non-conference action this evening at the Red Auerbach Arena.

The Basics

Score: Fitchburg State 70, Brandeis 73
Records: Fitchburg State (4-8) | Brandeis (4-6)

How It Happened

Fitchburg State jumped out to a quick 9-2 lead to start the contest as junior guard Jonathan Perez (Lowell, Mass.) registered a pair of jumpers, while classmate Nicholas Tracy (Indianapolis, Ind.) added a three pointer.

Brandeis grabbed the lead midway through the stanza (18-16) after an 11-2 stretch with sophomore Colin Sawyer (New London, Conn.) connecting on a pair of trey's, while freshman Semilh Sey (Istanbul, Turkey) added an and one.

The Judges took its largest advantage of the half (33-26) after senior Latye Workman (Brooklyn, N.Y.) hit a layup before junior Brandon Harris (San Bernardino, Calif.) buried  a trey and a  jumper, while Perez sank one of two free-throws to give the Falcons a 36-35 edge going into the break.  

Following the intermission, Brandeis regained the lead (41-40) on six straight points from newcomer Chandler Jones (Springfield, Mass.), but Fitchburg State answered back to retie the contest on a trey by Perez to make the score 45-45.

The Judges and Falcons proceeded to trade three points as junior Corey Sherman (Penn Valley, Penn.) connected for Brandeis, while freshman Anthony Allen (East Longmeadow, Mass.) drained one for the visitors to give Fitchburg State a 57-55 margin.

The Green and Gold regained the lead (69-65) on a layup by graduate student Troy DaCosta (Cambridge, Mass.) and a three pointer from Perez, before the Judges answered back to take a 72-70 margin after freshman Lawrence Sabir (Providence, R.I.) sank a pair from the charity stripe,  en-route to holding on for a 73-70 victory.

Inside the Numbers,

Fitchburg State was led by Perez with a game-best 24 points and three boards, while senior Josh Bosworth (Springfield, Mass.) added 11 points and six rebounds.

For Brandeis, Sawyer finished with a team-leading 17 points and four caroms, while Jones chipped in with a double-double of 13 points and ten boards.

Fitchburg State shot 27-for-64 (42.2%) from the field and (7-of-21) 33.3% from beyond the arc.

Brandeis went 25--for-64 (39.1%) overall and (6-of-25) 24.0% from three point range.

The Falcons finished with a narrow 42-39 margin on the boards, while the Judges finished with a 40-23 advantage in bench points.

Third meeting between the two schools on the hardwood with the Falcons 2-1 all-time when taking on the Judges.

Falcons collected a 79-70 win over Brandeis last season at the Parkinson Gymnasium.

Up Next

Falcons will host the Rams of Framingham State University to open up conference play on Saturday for a contest starting at 1:30 P.M. Judges will travel to New York University on the same day as well for a 3:00 P.M. tipoff.