Men's Basketball Drop MASCAC Clash To Trailblazers

Fitchburg, MA – The Fitchburg State Men's Basketball team dropped a 67-52 decision to the Trailblazers of MCLA this afternoon in Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) action from the Parkinson Gymnasium.

The Basics

Score: Fitchburg State 52, MCLA 67

Fitchburg State (3-17, 1-6 MASCAC) I MCLA (11-8, 5-2 MASCAC)

How It Happened

1st Half

Fitchburg State grabbed a 6-4 advantage on two buckets from senior Javon Taylor (Cambridge, MA) and a Donald Brown Jr (Baltimore, MD) layup before MCLA trimmed the deficit to 8-7 as newcomer Hayden Morris-Gray (Port Jefferson Station, NY) connected on a layup. The Falcons upped the lead to 15-9 on baskets by freshmen Joshua Jean Charles (Dorchester, MA), Brown Jr and Tryston Ofoh (Baltimore, MD), but the Trailblazers answered back on a jumper from senior Quenton Gittens (Pittsfield, MA) to make the score 17-13.

The Green and Gold pushed the margin to 22-15 as newcomer Kamau Franks (Converse, TX) drained a three-ball, but the visitors battled back when Gittens converted a three-point play (24-22). Fitchburg State countered with an Ofoh layup before MCLA trimmed the lead to 26-25 going into the break on a Gittens three ball.

2nd Half

Following the intermission, MCLA grabbed its first lead on the afternoon (30-29) on a pair of free-throws from Gittens before Fitchburg State took the lead back on a Taylor layup for the 31-30 margin. The Falcons extended the lead to 33-30 when Jean Charles notched a layup, but the Trailblazers regained the lead (37-33), going on a 7-0 run, capped by a Gittens layup.

The Green and Gold cut the deficit to 37-36 as freshman Matthew Drayton (Boston, MA) buried a three-pointer, but the visitors counter with a 12-0 stretch, closed out by a Colby Burleson (Pittsboro, NC) three-pointer for the 49-36 advantage. The hosts answered back with a Braeden White (Spencer, MA) free-throw and a three-ball by junior Frederick Siayor (Worcester, MA) to make the score 52-40 before Morris-Gray connected on an and one for the Trailblazers (61-43).

Fitchburg State would cut into the lead as Siayor netted another three-ball and a free-throw (61-47) before MCLA secured the victory as Gittens sank two from the charity stripe, resulting in the 67-52 final.

Inside the Numbers                                                                                                 

• Falcons were led by Taylor with a team-best 11 points, eight rebounds, one assist and four steal
• Siayor added ten points, seven caroms, one assist and two steals
• For the Trailblazers, Gittens finished with a game-best 33 points, 13 boards, four assists, two steals and one block
• Morris-Gray chipped in with 12 points, three rebounds, two assists and one block
• 114th meeting between Fitchburg State and MCLA on the hardwood with the Falcons 51-62 all-time when taking on the Trailblazers
• Fitchburg State shot 19-for-58 (32.8%) from the field and 6-of-16) 37.5% from three-point range
• MCLA finished 23-of-58 (39.7%) overall and (6-for-28) 21.4% for beyond the arc
• Trailblazers held a narrow 39-38 edge on the glass

Up Next

Falcons return to action on Wednesday as they travel to Worcester State to take on the Lancers for MASCAC tilt, starting at 7:30PM.

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