Men's Basketball Defeated By Engineers In Non-Conference Action

Fitchburg, MA – The Fitchburg State Men's Basketball team dropped a 75-69 decision to the Engineers of WPI this evening in non-conference action from the Parkinson Gymnasium.

The Basics

Score: Fitchburg State 69, WPI 75

Fitchburg State (1-5, 0-0 MASCAC) I WPI (6-0, 0-0 NEWMAC)

How It Happened

1st half

Fitchburg State opened the contest with a 6-5 advantage as freshman Kamau Franks (Converse, TX) buried a pair of three-pointers before WPI answered with a layup from senior Donovan Sevilla (San Ramon, CA) to make the score 8-7.

The two teams traded scores over the next five minute before the Green and Gold pushed the lead to 16-11 on a pair of free throws by newcomer Matthew Drayton (Boston, MA). The Engineers battled back to knot the contest at 24-24 with Sevilla converting a layup.

With the score 31-26, the Falcons went on an 11-4 run capped by a layup from junior Frederick Siayor (Worcester, MA) for the 42-30 lead. WPI trimmed the deficit to 42-32 as freshman Justin Molen (Newark, DE), but the hosts closed out the half with a buzzer beater layup from senior Javon Taylor (Cambridge, MA) for the 44-32 edge.

2nd Half

Following the intermission, Fitchburg State pushed the lead to 50-34 as newcomer Braeden White (Spencer, MA) drained a three ball, but WPI answered with junior Aidan Callahan (Rowley, MA) connecting on a three-pointer to cut the lead to 50-37.

The Green and Gold upped the lead to 63-43 with buckets from Taylor, Siayor and freshman Joshua Jean Charles (Dorchester, MA) before the Engineers went on a 13-1 run, capped by a pair from the charity stripe from sophomore J.R. Newman (Havertown, PA).to make the score 64-56.

The Falcons answered back on a Taylor layup (66-56), but the visitors regained the lead for good as freshman Nathan Bledsoe (San Antonio, TX) knocked down a three ball for the 69-66 edge. Fitchburg State trimmed the lead to 70-69 on a three-pointer from freshman Colin Quinn (South Hadley, MA) before WPI secured the victory on a Sevilla layup, resulting in the 75-69 final.

Inside the Numbers

• Falcons were led by Franks with a team-best 17 points, five rebounds, three assists and one steal
• Taylor added 14 points, eight caroms, one steal and two blocks
• For the Engineers, Callahan finished with a game-leading 21 points, two boards, two assists and one steal
• Sevilla chipped in with 17 points, five rebounds, two assists and one steal
• 19th meeting between the two team on the hardwood with the Falcons 2-17 all-time when taking on the Engineers
• Fitchburg State shot 28-for-56 (50.0%) from the field and (7-of-21) 33.3%% from three-point range
• WPI finished 30-of-65 (46.2%) overall and (7-for-18) 38.9% for beyond the arc
• Engineers finished with a 40-28 edge on the glass

Up Next

Falcons return to action on Saturday, December 2nd as they travel to MIT to take on the Engineers in non-conference action, starting at 1:00PM.