Falcons Nipped By Bears, 77-72 In The MASCAC Championship Game

St. John nets season best 20 points for Green and Gold 

Bridgewater, Mass. – The fourth seeded Fitchburg State University men's basketball team dropped a tough, 77-72 decision to the second seeded Bears of Bridgewater State University this afternoon in the championship game of the 2018 Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) tournament at the Tinsley Center.

The Basics

Score: Fitchburg State 72, Bridgewater State 77
Records: Fitchburg State (13-15) | Bridgewater State (18-9)

How It Happened

Bridgewater State opened the contest with an 8-2 run as senior Joseph Carty (Natick, Mass.) and sophomore Rayshon Ward (Fayetteville, N.C.) hit jumpers, while sophomore Ryan Carney (Easton, Mass.) added a three-pointer. Fitchburg State cut the deficit to 14-12 on a three ball by freshman Anthony Allen (East Longmeadow, Mass.) and a layup from senior Josh Bosworth (Springfield, Mass.).

With the score 21-12, the Falcons cut into the Bears lead as sophomore Tyrell St. John (Stamford, Conn.) knocked down a three-pointer before the hosts upped its margin on a bucket from senior Rocky DeAndrade (Mansfield, Mass.) as Bridgewater State took a 39-26 edge into the locker room.

Following the break, Bridgewater State extended its lead (52-32) on a three ball by Carney, but Fitchburg State answered back on back-to-back layups from St. John and junior Jonathan Perez (Lowell, Mass.) to make the score 52-36.

The Green and Gold continued to chip away at the deficit as St. John and Bosworth combined for three free-throws, while Bosworth added a jumper (67-61), but the Bears secure the win when Carty a jumper with roughly one minute left in regulation, resulting in the 77-72 final.

Inside the Numbers,

97th meeting between the two schools on the parquet with the Falcons 29-68 all-time when taking on the Bears.

Fitchburg State had won four of the last six games against Bridgewater State, including an 89-76 triumph in the last matchup (2/17/18) at the Parkinson Gymnasium.

Fitchburg State was led by Harris with a game-best 20 points and three boards, while Bosworth added 16 points and six boards.

For Bridgewater State, Ward finished with a team-leading 19 points and eight caroms, while Carney chipped in with 19 points and two rebounds.

Fitchburg State shot 27-for-62 (43.5%) from the field and (8-of-24) 33.3% from beyond the arc.

Bridgewater State went 26--for-58 (44.8%) overall and (10-of-22) 45.5% from three point range.

The Bears finished with a 39-34 margin on the boards, while the Falcons finished with an 18-3 advantage in bench points.

Up Next

Falcons conclude their 2018 season with an overall record of 13-15 and a 6-6 clip in conference play. Bears clinch their first MASCAC men's basketball post-season tournament championship since 1999 and await its seeding into the 2018 NCAA Division III Championship tournament.