Fitchburg State Slips Past Daniel Webster, 61-54

Valliere collects double-double in Falcons non-conference victory

FITCHBURG, Mass. (December 12, 2012) – The Fitchburg State men's basketball team registered its fifth victory of the season, defeating Daniel Webster College, 61-54 in non-conference action this evening.

Fitchburg State senior Zach Valliere (Douglas, Mass./Douglas) led all scorers, totaling a double-double with 16 points and 13 rebounds, while classmate Brandon Selby (Baltimore, Md./Joppatowne) shot 6-of-10 for 14 points and three boards. Senior Jeremy Kimber (Fitchburg, Mass./Fitchburg) and junior Mike Ingram-Rubin (Boston, Mass./Bedford) were also solid with nine points apiece.

For the visitors, senior Dave Schindewolf (Robbinsville, N.J./Lawrence) led the Eagles, totaling a team-best 12 points with 5-of-10 shooting from the field. Junior Daris Cosby (Columbia, S.C./Richland Northeast) was also strong, connecting for ten points and eight boards, while John Hickson (Springfield, Mass./Central) and Hector Heredia (Lawrence, Mass./Lawrence Tech) wrapped up the Eagles top scorers with eight points each.

Daniel Webster grabbed a five point advantage (24-19) after one half of play, as neither team was able to catch fire, combining for just 17 field goals in the frame. The Eagles used a balanced attack with seven players collecting points in the period, including Cosby and Hickson's five points apiece. Valliere led the Falcons with eight points and six rebounds while Kimber and Ingram-Rubin chipped in with four points each.

In the second half, Daniel Webster opened a double-digit lead (38-28) with a trio of three pointers from Schindewolf, Cosby and Ryan Gauthier (Nashua, N.H./Nashua North), but Fitchburg State bounced back (40-38), rifling off a 10-2 run behind a pair of dunks from Selby and a trey from Jesus Moore (Lawrence, Mass./Lawrence).

The Falcons knotted the score just three minutes later, stringing together a 7-2 run capped by a three point play by Valliere down low. The senior center increased the Fitchburg State lead to four (48-44) with another three point effort, before baskets by Magnolima Noguiera (Taunton, Mass./Taunton) and Selby gave the Falcons a double digit advantage (54-44).

Down the stretch, the Falcons held off any Eagle comeback, totaling four free-throws over the final minute of play. For the game, Fitchburg State finished 20-of-56 from the floor, including 14-of-27 in the second half, while Daniel Webster connected on 35.5% of its shots, including 7-of-28 from beyond the arc.

Fitchburg State (5-3, 0-0 MASCAC) will be back in action on January 3rd as it hosts Anna Maria College at 7:30 p.m. Daniel Webster (3-5, 0-0 NECC) will visit New England College on Saturday at 7 p.m.