Men's Basketball Topped By Bears In Conference Clash

Fitchburg, MA – The Fitchburg State Men's Basketball team dropped an 85-72 decision to the Bears of Bridgewater State this evening in Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) action from the Parkinson Gymnasium.

The Basics

Score: Fitchburg State 72, Bridgewater State 85

Fitchburg State (2-15, 0-4 MASCAC) I Bridgewater State (7-10, 3-2 MASCAC)

How It Happened

1st half

Bridgewater State opened the contest with a 9-2 advantage on a bucket from freshman Zach Taylor (Quincy, MA) before Fitchburg State cut the deficit to 12-8 as newcomers Braedon White (Spencer, MA), Joshua Jean Charles (Dorchester, MA) and Matthew Drayton (Boston, MA) connected on buckets. The Bears pushed the lead to 18-8 as sophomore Dante Kikuba (Framingham, MA) netted a layup, but the Falcons answered back with freshman Kamau Franks (Converse, TX) registering a layup to trim the lead to 18-10.

The visitor extended the margin to 25-14 when senior Justin Parsons (Portsmouth, RI) notched a basket, but the Green and Gold countered with a pair of free-throws from sophomore Frederick Siayor (Worcester, MA) (25-16). Fitchburg State continued to cut away at the lead on buckets by White and freshman Diallo Barry (Baltimore, MD) (44-29) before Bridgewater State took a 46-29 advantage into the break on a senior Precious Okoh (Brockton, MA) connected on a layup.

2nd Half

Following the intermission, Bridgewater State upped the lead to 51-29 as Kikuba notched a layup before Fitchburg State countered with an Ofoh layup and a three-ball from Siayor to cut the lead to 53-34. The Falcons chipped the deficit to 64-46 on jumpers by Charles and freshman Donald Brown Jr (Baltimore, MD) as well as another three-pointer by Siayor, but the Bears pushed the lead to 72-54 on a three-pointer from Kikuba.

The Falcons responded with back-to-back three balls by Franks and Drayton (75-62), but Taylor would answer with a layup for the Bears to make the score 77-62. The hosts cut the lead to 78-67 as senior Javon Taylor (Cambridge, MA) hit a layup and Drayton drained a three-pointer before the Bears secured  the victory on a bucket from sophomore Louis Jennings (Walpole, MA), resulting in the 85-72 final.

Inside the Numbers                                                                                                 

• Falcons were led by Siayor with a game-best 21 points, one rebound, three assists and four steals
• Franks added 13 points, nine caroms, two assists and two blocks for the Green and Gold
• For the Bears, Okoh finished with a team-leading 20 points, eight boards, one assist, one steal and one block
• Kikuba chipped in 15 points, four rebounds, one assist and three steals
• 143rd meeting between Fitchburg State and Bridgewater State on the hardwood with the Falcons 46-97 all-time when taking on the Bears
• Fitchburg State shot 31-for-59 (53.4%) from the field and (8-of-17) 47.1% from three-point range
• Bridgewater State finished 30-of-77 (39.0%) overall and (8-for-23) 36.4% for beyond the arc
• Falcons held a 46-33 advantage on the glass

Up Next

Falcons return to action on Saturday as they travel to Salem State to take on the Vikings for a MASCAC clash, starting at 12:00PM.

STAY CONNECTED:

- For the latest on Fitchburg State University Athletics, follow the Falcons via social media on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.