Men's Basketball Defeats Spartans In Non-Conference Action

Semedo nets team-leading 18 points for Green and Gold

Castleton, VT – The Fitchburg State Men's Basketball team earned a 65-57 victory over the Spartans of Vermont State Castleton this afternoon in non-conference action from the Glenbrook Gymnasium.

The Basics

Score: Fitchburg State 65, Castleton 57

Records: Fitchburg State (3-9, 0-0 MASCAC) | Castleton (1-9, 0-2 LEC)

How It Happened

First Half

Fitchburg State opened the contest with a 9-6 advantage as sophomores Kamau Franks (Converse, TX) and Matthew Drayton (Boston, MA) netted jumper, while junior Nicolas Von Zboray (Pollack Pines, CA) added a three-ball before Castleton knotted the score at 9-9 when junior Ben Seiler (Enfield, NH) knocked down a three-pointer.

The Falcons regained the advantage (17-13) on buckets by senior Nathaniel Semedo (Bridgewater, MA), sophomore Jalen Jackson (San Antonio, TX) and Von Zboray, but the Spartans answered with a three-ball by graduate student Justin Schwarzbeck (Newburgh, NY) to make the score 21-16.

The Green and Gold pushed the margin to 27-22 with Semedo connecting on a pair of free-throw before the hosts battled back to knot the contest at 29-29 going into the break as sophomore Zach Thompson (Enfield, NH) and junior Will Radcliff (Clifton Park, NY) notched buckets.

Second Half

Following the intermission, Fitchburg State went on an 8-2 run with three pointers from Von Zboray and Jackson for the 37-31 edge, but Castleton responded as Schwarzbeck registered a layup (37-33). The Falcons answered back with baskets by junior Jeremiah Simeon (Norwalk, CT) and sophomore Braeden White (Spencer, MA) for the 49-40 margin before the Spartans trimmed the deficit to 53-45 on a three-pointer from senior Conner McKearin (Proctor, VT).

The Green and Gold upped the lead to 59-47 with Drayton draining a three-ball, but Castleton State responded with buckets by Schwarbeck and sophomore Troy Butler (Manchester, CT) (59-51). The Spartans reduced the margin to 62-55 as Butler hit a jumper before the Falcons secured the victory when junior Duvall Price (Lanham, MD) sank a pair from the charity stripe, resulting in the 65-57 final.

Inside the Numbers

• Semedo led the way for the Falcons with a team-leading 18 points
• Jackson chipped in with 11 points, six rebounds, one assist, one steal and one block
• For the Spartans, Butler finished with a game best 19 points, one carom, one assist and two steals
• Schwarzbeck added 11 points, eight boards, three assists, one steal and one block
• 15th meeting between Fitchburg State and Castleton on the basketball court with the Falcons 10-5 all-time when taking on the Spartans
• Fitchburg State shot 19-for-59 (32.2%) from the field and (6-of-22) 27.3% from three point range
• Castleton finished 21-of-73 (28.8%) overall and (4-for-30) 13.3% for beyond the arc
• The Falcons held a 43-35 edge on the glass

Up Next

Falcons return to action on Wednesday as they host the Trailblazers of MCLA for a MASCAC matchup, starting at 6:00PM.

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