Fitchburg State Edges Bridgewater State, 74-72

Falcons claims second MASCAC victory with 16 points and nine boards from Valliere

BRIDGEWATER, Mass. (January 26, 2013) – Junior Mike Ingram-Rubin (Boston, Mass./Bedford) netted the game-winning basket as time expired to lift the Fitchburg State men's basketball team to a 74-72 MASCAC victory over Bridgewater State University this afternoon.

            Bridgewater State held a slim two point margin after one period play, receiving a pair of nine point efforts from Brendan Monteiro (Brockton, Mass./Catholic Memorial) and Brian Grossman (Duxbury, Mass./Duxbury), but seniors Jeremy Kimber (Fitchburg, Mass./Fitchburg) and Zach Valliere (Douglas, Mass./Douglas) matched the Bears efforts with nine points and eight points respectively to keep the Falcons within striking distance. 

            In the second half, Bridgewater State increased its lead to six () just five minutes into the period, but Fitchburg State responded with a 6-0 run to knot the score at 56-56. Both teams exchanged leads over the final eight minutes of playing with neither team going up by more than two hoops.

            Fitchburg State grabbed a one point lead with just two minutes remaining in the game following an Ingram-Rubin lay-up but a Shawn Yard (Brockton, Mass./Brockton) free-throw knotted the score at 72-72 with 0:45 remaining in regulation. The Bears had the opportunity to take a two point advantage with free-throws by Yard and Anthony Fortes, but a pair of misses set the stages for Ingram-Rubin's game-winning bucket.

            Valliere led the Falcons offense with a near double-double of 16 points and nine rebounds, while Kimber and Ingram-Rubin added 13 points apiece. Michael Lofton (Mansfield, Mass./Mansfield) led the Bridgewater State attack with a team-best 14 points, while Yard and Grossman followed with 12 points and 11 points respectively.

            Fitchburg State (10-8, 2-5 MASCAC) will be back in action on Saturday as it visits Framingham State at 3 p.m.