Falcons Drop 80-63 Decision To Vikings

St. John nets team-best 12 points for Fitchburg State in MASCAC setback

Salem, Mass. – The Fitchburg State University men's basketball team suffered a tough 80-63 setback to the Vikings of Salem State University in Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) action this evening at the Twohig Gymnasium.

The Basics

Score: Fitchburg State 63, Salem State 80
Records: Fitchburg State (5-9, 1-1 MASCAC) | Salem State (11-3, 2-0 MASCAC)

How It Happened

Salem State opened the contest with a 4-0 margin on buckets from Drew Healy (Lowell, Mass.) and Tyreik McCauley (Worcester, Mass.) before junior guard Jonathan Perez (Lowell, Mass.) got the Fitchburg State on the board with three-pointer (4-3).

The Vikings extended its lead, going on a 13-2 run as Rayshawn Matthews (Boston, Mass.), Alexander Santos (Lawrence, Mass.), Shaquan Murray (), Sean Bryan (Lowell, Mass.) and Jacob Lindland (Hamilton, Mass.) all collected baskets during the run for the 19-6 edge.

The Falcons answered back on a pair of jumpers from newcomer Anthony Allen (East Longmeadow, Mass.) and a three ball by sophomore Tyrell St. John (Stamford, Conn.) to cut the lead to 21-13 before the hosts took a 46-28 margin into the locker room after Bryan sank a pair of free-throws.

Following the intermission, both teams traded baskets with Bryan hitting a jumper for Salem State, while Perez connected on a jumper for Fitchburg State (48-30). The Green and Gold cut into the deficit later in the frame as senior Josh Bosworth (Springfield, Mass.) collected a layup and junior Nicholas Tracy (Indianapolis, Ind.) buried a trey to make the score 54-35.

The Falcons continued to battle with Tracy hitting a jumper, while graduate student Troy DaCosta (Cambridge, Mass.) connecting a layup and a pair of free-throws, but the Vikings secured the victory with Santos draining a trey, resulting in the 80-63 final.

Inside the Numbers,

Fitchburg State was by St. John with a team-leading 12 points and two assists, while Bosworth added eight points and seven rebounds.

For Salem State, Bryan registered a game-best 25 points and six boards, while Murray chipped in with 11 points and five caroms.

Fitchburg State shot 22-for-65 (38.8%) from the field and (16-of-23) 69.6% from the charity strip.

Salem State went 31--for-77 (40.3%) overall and (11-of-13) 84.6% from the free-throw line.

The Vikings finished with a slim 49-43 advantage on the glass, while the Falcon held a 33-17 margin in bench points.

100th meeting between the two schools on the basketball court with the Falcons 14-86 all-time when taking on the Vikings.

Fitchburg State had won the last four against Salem State, including a 96-83 decision in the last meeting (2/15/17) at the Twohig Gymnasium.

Up Next

Falcons will host the Trailblazers of MCLA next Wednesday for a MASCAC bout starting at 7:30 P.M. Vikings will host MASCAC rival Framingham State on Saturday with a 3:00 P.M. tipoff.