Fitchburg State Slips Past Daniel Webster, 99-95 (2OT)

Ingram nails crucial three-pointer en route to Falcons third victory of the year

NASHUA, N.H. (November 19, 2011) – Sophomore Mike Ingram-Rubin's (Boston, Mass./Medford) three-pointer with 2:24 remaining in the second overtime broke a 92-all tie and Fitchburg State held off Daniel Webster down the stretch, on the way to a wild 99-95 double overtime victory in the second round of the Rivier College AMI Tip Off Saturday at Muldoon Gymnasium.

Ingram-Rubin and junior Zach Valliere (Douglas, Mass./Douglas) each finished with a double-double as the Falcons improved to 3-0 on the young season. Ingram-Rubin notched 23 points and 12 boards along with four steals, while Valliere added 23 points, a game-high 14 boards and was 11-of-13 from the line.

John Hickson (Springfield, Mass.) paced the Eagles (0-2) with a career-best 30 points including five three-pointers and was a perfect 11 of 11 at the stripe while pulling in eight rebounds. Keith Speed (Columbus, Ohio) knocked down 24 points and added four assists after knocking down 29 points the night before.

After a number of swings through regulation, the teams went toe-to-toe throughout each extra session forcing five lead changes and six ties over the combined ten minutes. Daniel Webster was in position to steal the victory both in regulation and the first extra period as the Eagles held a 76-71 lead with 1:55 remaining in regulation. The Falcons responded late, pulling within two on a Tom Henneberry (Lexington, Mass./Lexington) jumper with 1:38 left and would tie it on two from Valliere at the line with 45 seconds remaining.

After Speed just missed inside with a second left forced the first overtime, DWC again fleshed the lead out to four (84-80) in the second session. But Henneberry answered again with a clutch inside jumper for an 84-82 game with 1:19 to go and Ingram-Rubin would tie it with a layup with 51 seconds to go.

Both teams struggled to find a shooting rhythm all afternoon as the Eagles connected on 35% from the field while the Falcons finished 37%. DWC kept close throughout however at the line, burying 24 of 27 while Fitchburg struggled to hit just 19 of 32. Fitchburg was aided by a 68-60 rebounds advantage include 32 on the offensive glass.

Fitchburg State (3-0, 0-0 MASCAC) will visit UMass Boston on Tuesday at 7:30 p.m. Daniel Webster (0-2, 0-0 NECC) will travel to Salve Regina on Tuesday at 7 p.m.