Falcons Fall To Vikings, 82-64

Salem, Mass. – The Fitchburg State Men's Basketball team dropped an 82-64 decision to the Vikings of Salem State this afternoon in Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) action from the Twohig Gymnasium.

 The Basics

Score: Fitchburg State 64, Salem State 82
Fitchburg State (8-12, 2-5 MASCAC) I Salem State (3-17, 2-5 MASCAC)

How It Happened

Fitchburg State went on an 8-0 run early in the frame as freshman Toskany Abreu (Beverly, Mass.) and sophomore Tayjaun McKenzie (Lowell, Mass.) hit back-to-back three-balls before Salem State cut the lead to 8-5 with on a layup from Hakeem Animashaun (Dedham, Mass.).

The Vikings rallied to take a 12-11 edge when sophomore Justin Ciaglo (Amherst, Mass.) netted a bucket, but the Falcons countered as newcomer Xavier Betancourt (Tampa, Fla.) notched a layup to give the Green and Gold a 17-15 advantage.

Salem State responded to grab a 24-17 lead with freshman Jaden Castillo (Lawrence, Mass.) draining a trey before Fitchburg State answered on a Jordan Jones (Worcester, Mass.) dunk to trip the lead to 24-20, The Vikings would push their margin 38-28 going into the break, going on an 8-3 run to close out the half.

Following the intermission, both teams traded buckets with freshman Anthony Diaz (Tampa, Fla.) collecting the bucket for Fitchburg State, while Castillo notched Salem State's basket. The Vikings pushed their lead 47-32 as Castillo hit a layup before the Falcons responded on an Abreu jumper.

The Green and Gold chipped the deficit to 56-46 on a three-point play from senior Charles Doss (Fitchburg, Mass.), but Salem State extended its advantage (65-48) with sophomore Patrick Bugler (Marblehead, Mass.) burying a trey.

Fitchburg State continued to battle, cutting the lead to 65-55 on a pair of free-throws by Betancourt before Salem State upped its margin (75-62) on anther trey from Bugler as the hosts secured the the 82-64 victory.

Inside the Numbers

• Falcons were paced by Abreu with a team-best ten points, two boards, four assists, one steal and one block

• McKenzie added nine points, eight rebounds and one block for Fitchburg State

• For the Vikings, Animashaun finished with a game-leading 22 points, 18 rebounds, five assists and five blocks

• Castillo chipped in with 18 points, five caroms, four assists, one steal and two blocks for Salem State

• 105th meeting between Fitchburg State and Salem State on the court with the Falcons 17-88 all-time vs. the Vikings

• Fitchburg State shot 22-for-74 (29.7%) from the field and (6-of-30) 20.0% from three point range

• Salem State finished 29-of-64 (45.2%) overall and (8-for-22) 36.4% for beyond the arc

• Falcons held a narrow 43-37 margin on the boards

Up Next

Falcons will host the Trailblazers of MCLA on Wednesday for a MASCAC clash, starting at 7:30 PM. Vikings will travel to Bridgewater State to take on the Bears on the same date at 7:30 PM.