Falcons Withstand Lancers, 91-88

Harris finished with team-best 20 points for Fitchburg State in key MASCAC victory 

Worcester, Mass. – The Fitchburg State University men's basketball team defeated the Lancers of Worcester State University, 91-88 in Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) action this afternoon at the John P. Brissette Competition Court.

The Basics

Score: Fitchburg State 91, Worcester State 88
Records: Fitchburg State (6-10, 2-2 MASCAC) | Worcester State (1-16, 0-4 MASCAC)

How It Happened

Worcester State raced out to an early 12-2 lead to start the contest as sophomore Shaun McCarthy (Oxford, Mass.) ignited the run with five points, while freshman Joe Desormier (Granby, Mass.) added a three-pointer.

Fitchburg State battled back to knot the score at 14-14, going on a 10-0 run with sophomore Charles Doss (Fitchburg, Mass.) hitting a pair of jumpers, while freshman Anthony Allen (East Longmeadow, Mass.) knocked down a three-pointer.

The Falcons took the lead with just over five minutes remaining in the half on buckets from junior Noah Fleury (Weymouth, Mass.), senior Josh Bosworth (Springfield, Mass.) and Doss (26-21). With the score knotted at 32-32, the Green and Gold took a 38-34 margin into the locker room as Harris, Fleury and sophomore Tyrell St. John (Stamford, Conn.) connected on baskets.

Following the intermission, Fitchburg State upped its margin (45-36) on a layup by Harris and a three-pointer from junior Jonathan Perez (Lowell, Mass.). Worcester State chipped away at the deficit, cutting the Falcons lead to just four (45-41) after sophomore Cal Howes (Maynard, Mass.) drained a trey.

The Lancers regained the lead on a three ball by Howes before the Falcons answered back with a pair of three balls by Allen and a three pointer from Harris to take a 68-64 margin. With the host up by one (88-87), Fitchburg State took the lead back on a driving layup by St. John to seal the win for the Green and Gold, resulting in the 91-88 final

Inside the Numbers,

105th meeting between the two schools on the basketball court with the Falcons 39-66 all-time when taking on the Lancers.

Two team have split the previous six matchup against each other with the Lancers coming away with a 71-68 triumph in the last meeting (2/23/17) at the Parkinson Gymnasium.

Fitchburg State was led by junior Brandon Harris (San Bernardino, Calif.) with team-leading 20 points and two boards, while Bosworth added 17 points and six boards.

For Worcester State, McCarthy finished with a game-best 32 points and five rebounds, while sophomore Will Watkins, Jr. (Southbridge, Mass.) chipped in 17 points and three boards.

Fitchburg State shot 34-for-75 (45.3%) from the field and (7-of-20) 35.0% from beyond the arc.

Worcester State went 32--for-58 (55.2%) overall and (10-of-23) 43.5% from three point range.

The Falcons finished with a narrow 38-35 margin on the boards, while the Lancers finished with an 18-16 margin in assists.

Up Next

Falcons will host the Owls of Westfield State University on Tuesday for a MASCAC matchup starting at 7:30 P.M. Lancers will host the Bears of Bridgewater State on the same day for a conference tilt at 7:30 P.M.