Falcons Rally Past Gators, 88-86

Tracy nets game-winner as time expires to lift Falcons to non-conference victory 

Chestnut Hill, Mass. – Junior guard Nicholas Tracy (Indianapolis, Ind.) netted a game-winning layup as time expired to propel the Fitchburg State University men's basketball team to an 88-86 victory over Gators of Pine Manor College in non-conference action this afternoon at the Grinnell Gymnasium.

The Basics

Score: Fitchburg State 88, Pine Manor 86
Records: Fitchburg State (8-13) | Pine Manor (8-13)

How It Happened

Pine Manor grabbed an early 5-0 lead on a layup by junior Ellis Reid (Hartford, Conn.) and a three-pointer from senior Jonathan Higgenbotham (Oakland, Calif.), before Fitchburg State took a 12-7 advantage after newcomer Anthony Allen (East Longmeadow, Mass.) buried a three ball and junior Brandon Harris (San Bernardino, Calif.) connected on jumper.

The Gators regained the lead (18-15) on an and-one from junior Jamel Hamans (Meriden, Conn.), but the Falcons answered back again as Allen drained another three ball to give the Green and Gold a 29-26 advantage. Fitchburg State upped its lead (39-32) on a layup by junior Joshawa Babb (Lynn, Mass.), but Pine Manor closed out the first half scoring on a free-throw from Hamans to cut the Falcons lead to 43-39 going into the intermission.

Following the break, Pine Manor regained the lead (52-51) on a three-pointer from Hamans, but the Falcons quickly took the lead back a jumper from Harris for the 53-52 edge. The back and forth battle continued as the Gators connected on back-to-back three balls by senior Louis Savage (Atlantic City, N.J.) and sophomore Eugene Everett (Bronx, N.Y.) (62-57).

The Green and Gold chipped away at the deficit, cutting the lead to 82-81 as sophomore Tyrell St. John (Stamford, Conn.) hit a layup with just over two minutes left in the contest before Hamans knotted the score for the Gators (86-86). Fitchburg State would secure the victory however with Tracy canning a layup as time expired, resulting in the 88-86 final. 

Inside the Numbers,

Just the second ever matchup between the two school on the parquet with the Falcons 1-1 all-time when taking on the Gators

Pine Manor registered a 104-80 win over Fitchburg State last season at the Parkinson Gymnasium in the first matchup between the Falcons and the Gators (1/16/2017).

Fitchburg State was led by Perez with a game-best 24 points and three boards, while Allen added 13 points and one rebound.

For Pine Manor, Hamans finished with a team-leading 21 points and four caroms, while Everett chipped in with 17 points and one assist.

Fitchburg State shot 30-for-53 (56.6%) from the field and (8-of-18) 44.4% from beyond the arc.

Pine Manor went 30--for-61 (49.2%) overall and (10-of-20) 50.0% from three point range.

The Gators finished with a 36-27 margin on the boards, while the Falcons held a 44-32 edge in bench points.

Up Next

Falcons will travel to MCLA on Wednesday to take on the Trailblazers for a MASCAC matchup at 7:30 P.M. Gators will visit MCLA on Saturday for a non-conference tilt, starting at 12:00 P.M.