Fitchburg State Shuts Down MCLA, 65-57

Henneberry lifts Falcons to fifth league victory with a game-high 20 points

FITCHBURG, Mass. (February 12, 2013) – The Fitchburg State men's basketball team clinched its fifth MASCAC victory of the year after downing the Trailblazers of MCLA this evening, 65-57 at the Recreation Center.

Senior Tom Henneberry (Lexington, Mass./Lexington) led the Falcon offensive efforts, posting a game-high 20 points, hitting 6-of-9 from the field, including 4-of-5 from downtown. Classmate Brandon Selby (Baltimore, Md./Joppatowne) was also solid with a 15 point, eight rebound effort, while Zach Valliere (Douglas, Mass./Douglas) and Mike Ingram-Rubin (Boston, Mass./Bedford) dropped 11 points and ten points respectively.

For the Trailblazers, junior Kenny Suggs (Brooklyn, N.Y./Lafayette) led the squad, totaling 13 points with 5-of-9 shooting from the field and six rebounds, while junior John Jones (Worcester, Mass./South) added a double-double of 12 points and 11 caroms.

MCLA took a six point advantage into the locker room after one period of play (33-27) as the Trailblazers closed the first half with a 5-2 surge behind back-to-back lay-ups from Suggs and Ruben DelRosario (Springfield, Mass./Central). MCLA used a balanced first half attack with seven players scoring buckets, but Selby's 11 first half points kept Fitchburg State within striking distance.

In the second half, Fitchburg State came out surging, notching a two point advantage with a 13-5 rally. Valliere led the run with seven points, including a three point play to open the half, while Selby, Ingram-Rubin and Henneberry all added a pair of points.

 Fitchburg State extended its lead to as much as 12 throughout the second half as Henneberry connected on a pair of three's to rally the Falcons. Both teams traded baskets down the stretch before a trey from DelRosario brought MCLA within eight with just under a minute remaining. A Falcon lay-up with 0:13 left in regulation sealed the deal however, giving Fitchburg State its fifth league victory.

For the game, Fitchburg State finished with a 48-45 advantage on the board, while shooting 23-of-59 from the field. The Trailblazers were limited to just 27% shooting, including just 11% from beyond the arc.

Fitchburg State (13-8, 5-5 MASCAC) will be back in action on Thursday as it hosts Salem State University at 7:30 p.m. MCLA (12-12, 8-3 MASCAC) will host Bridgewater State on Saturday at 1 p.m.