Salem State Holds On Vs. Fitchburg State, 79-75

Henneberry nets a game-high 16 points in Falcons MASCAC setback

FITCHBURG, Mass. (February 14, 2013) – The Fitchburg State men's basketball team hosted the Vikings of Salem State, falling 79-75 in a key MASCAC match-up this evening at the Recreation Center

The Falcons received a balance attack on the evening as four players registered double-figures, including a 14 point, ten rebound double-double effort from Zach Valliere (Douglas, Mass./Douglas). Senior Tom Henneberry (Lexington, Mass./Lexington) notched a game-high 16 points on the offensive end for Fitchburg State, while Mark Vickers (Boston, Mass./Snowden International) and Brandon Selby (Baltimore, Md./Joppatowne) added ten points apiece.

The Vikings were led by sophomore Bryan Ortiz (Salem, Mass./Roxbury) who collected 15 points with 5-of-15 shooting. Junior Andrew White (Medford, Mass./Medford) and Hanell Velez (Woburn, Mass./SNHU) both added 13 points apiece in the win for Salem State, while Jon Perez (Weymouth, Mass./Weymouth) and Jamal McCollum (Boston, Mass./Madison Park) collected ten points each.

Salem State opened the contest with an early eight point lead, posting a 10-2 run over the first three minutes of play. The Vikings increased their lead to as much as 11  but the Falcons began to chip away, using a nine point first half effort from Henneberry. Fitchburg State rifled off a 17-6 run over the final six minutes of the frame to grab a 37-34 advantage at the break. Henneberry sparked the Falcons with a three point, and-one play with 0:29 remaining but a three by 31 at the buzzer cut the Vikings deficit in half.

In the second half, the game witnessed some back and forth action with both teams clinging to one bucket margins. Fitchburg State maintained its lead for the first half of the second period, but Salem State crawled back via the three, hitting 6-of-11 from downtown. The Vikings took a three point advantage, 70-67 with a three pointer from Velez at the 3:54 mark and increased its margin to five with a lay-up from McCollum.

The Falcons continued to battle, scampering down the court to notch a Jeremy Kimber (Fitchburg, Mass./Fitchburg) lay-up with 0:42 remaining in regulation, but again the Vikings answered with a pair of free-throws from White. Fitchburg Stated added two more points with a Selby lay-up in the paint, but a final free-throw with 0:09 on the clock proved to be the final dagger.

For the game, Fitchburg State finished 31-of-67 from the field, including 5-of-14 from beyond the arc. The Falcons controlled the glass with a 43-33 advantage in rebounds, but 9-fo-19 shooting by the Vikings from long range, proved to be the difference maker.

Fitchburg State (13-9, 5-6 MASCAC) will be in action again on Saturday as it visits Westfield State at 3 p.m. Salem State (15-9, 7-4 MASCAC) will host Worcester State on Saturday at 5:30 p.m.