Falcons Topped By Lancers, 85-54

Worcester, Mass. – The Fitchburg State Men's Basketball team dropped an 85-54 decision to the Lancers of Worcester State University this evening in Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) action from the Brissette Court.

The Basics

Score: Fitchburg State 54, Worcester State 85
Records: Fitchburg State (2-11, 0-2 MASCAC0, Worcester State (6-9. 1-1 MASCAC)

How It Happened

Worcester State opened the contest with an 8-0 run, capped by a three pointer from sophomore Ryan Rubenskas (Bridgewater, Mass.) before Fitchburg State junior Darian Norwood (San Diego, Calif.) converted an and one to make the score 8-3.

The Falcons trimmed the lead to 15-7 with sophomore Javon Taylor (Cambridge, Mass.) and freshman Frederick Siayor (Worcester, Mass.) hitting buckets, but the Lancers countered with a basket by senior Otis Wheeler (Worcester, Mass.) for the 17-7 edge.

The hosts went on a 12-1 run, capped by an Erik Bjorn (Holden, Mass.) layup to take a 29-11 advantage before the Green and Gold cut the deficit to 31-20 as junior Tayjahn Joyner (Hadley, Mass.) and sophomore Aidan Luckey (Fitchburg, Mass.) connected on jumpers. The Lancers would take a 39-23 lead into the break though with Rubenskas adding a free-throw.

Following the intermission, the two teams traded buckets to start the second frame with graduate Chris Cardoso (Jamaica Plains, Mass.) registering the basket for Worcester State , while Norwood added a jumper for Fitchburg State (41-25).

The Lancers pushed their margin (48-25) as Bjorn netted a layup before senior Larry Mendes (Brockton, Mass.) notched a layup and free throw for the Green and Gold to cut the lead to 56-30. Worcester State responded with a 10-0 stretch when senior Corey Olivier (Maynard, Mass.) hit a jumper.

The Blue and Gold upped its lead to 85-43 when sophomore Daniel Liberatore (Hopedale, Mass.) posted a layup, but the Falcons battled back late in the contest, going on an 11-0 run to end the game with junior Brendan Dion (Clinton, Mass.) burying a three ball, while Mendes registered a layup to make the score 85-54. That's as close as the visitors would get though as Worcester State secured the 85-54 conference victory.

Inside the Numbers

• Falcons were paced by Siayor with a team-leading nine points, one board and one assist
• Taylor added eight points, eight caroms and one assist
• For the Lancers, Rubenskas led the way with 18 points, eight rebounds, one assist and two steals
• Cardoso chipped in with 14 points, three boards, three assists and two steals
• 118th meeting between two schools with Falcons 29-88 all-time vs the Lancers
• Fitchburg State shot 18-for-61 (29.5%) from the field and (3-for-18) 16.7% from three point land
• Worcester State finished 32-of-72 (44.4%) overall and (11-for-26) 42.3% from beyond the arc
• Worcester State held a 49-39 margin on the glass

Up Next

Falcons return to action on Saturday as they travel to Bridgewater State to take on the Bears for a MASCAC tilt, starting at 3:00 PM