Fifth Seeded Falcons Rally Past Fourth Seed Trailblazers

WIlliamstown, Mass. – The fifth seeded Fitchburg State Men's Basketball team collected a pair of clutch free-throws from junior Dayne Allen (Revere, Mass.) with eight seconds remaining to defeat the fourth seeded Trailblazers of MCLA this evening in quarterfinal round action of the 2022 Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) Men's Basketball post-season tournament from the Chandler Athletic Center.

The Basics

Score: Fitchburg State 77, MCLA 76
Records: Fitchburg State (7-17, 4-8 MASCAC), MCLA (10-13, 5-6 MASCAC)

How It Happened

Fitchburg State raced out to an early 7-0 lead on a pair of buckets from sophomore Trevian Hinson (Tampa, Fla.) and a layup by freshman Frederick Siayor (Worcester, Mass.) before MCLA answered with baskets by senior Hayden Bird (North Adams, Mass.) and junior Quentin Gittens (Pittsfield, Mass.) to cut the lead to 7-5.

The Falcons pushed its margin to 18-10 as Hinson netted back-to-back jumpers, but the Trailblazers knotted the score at 21-21 with junior Dylan Morris-Gray (Port Jefferson Station, N.Y.) hitting a layup.

The two teams traded baskets over the next few minutes before MCLA grabbed a 26-25 edge as Bird connected on a jumper, but the Green and Gold responded with a 5-0 run, capped by a Tajahn Joyner (Hadley, Mass.) free throw for the 30-26 advantage.

Fitchburg State would take a 36-32 margin as Joyner netted a pair from the charity stripe before MCLA went on a 9-3 stretch to close the half when graduate Noah Yearsley (Averill Park, N.Y.) converted three point play to make the score 41-39 going into the break.

Following the intermission, Fitchburg State regained the lead (43-41) on baskets from Joyner and Hinson before MCLA retied the contest at 43-43 with senior Bright Afful (Middletown, N.Y.) notching a layup.

The back and forth affair continued with five lead changes over the next four minutes before junior Dayne Allen (Revere, Mass.) and Hinson registering buckets for the Green and Gold to give the visitors a 59-55 edge.

The Falcons would push the lead to 65-57 on a Quincy Taylor (Boston, Mass.) layup, but the Trailblazers battled back take a 74-72 margin with Yearsley hitting two free throws. Yearsley would hit a layup for the hosts to make the score 76-72 before Hinson drained a three-ball to cut the lead to 76-75. Trailing by one, Allen drew a foul with eight seconds remaining in the contest and promptly sank both free throws to give the Falcons a 77-76 edge. MCLA's last second shot by junior Rece Racette (North Adams, Mass.) couldn't connect as the Green and Gold held on for the 77-76 victory.

Inside the Numbers

• Falcons were paced by Hinson with a game-best 29 points and six caroms
• Joyner added 14 points and six boards
• For the Trailblazers, Yearsley finished with a team-leading 25 points, three rebounds and one steal
• Gittens chipped in with 15 points, three boards, seven assists and one steal
• 109th meeting between two schools with Falcons 49-60 all-time vs the Trailblazers
• Fitchburg State shot 29-for-67 (43.3%) from the field and (5-for-13) 38.5% from three point land
• MCLA finished 25-of-62 (40.3%) overall and (11-for-27) 40.7% from beyond the arc
• Falcons finished with a 44.31 advantage on the glass

Up Next

Falcons advance to the MASCAC semifinals and will travel to the top seeded Owls of Westfield State on Thursday for a contest starting at 7:00 PM. Trailblazers conclude their 2022 season this evening.