Men's Basketball Ralllies Past Trailblazers

Jackson & Von Zboray net 11 points each for Green & Gold

Fitchburg, MA – The Fitchburg State Men's Basketball team held on for a 65-64 victory over the Trailblazers of MCLA in Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) this evening at the Parkinson Gymnasium.

The Basics

Score: Fitchburg State 65, MCLA 64

Records: Fitchburg State (4-9, 1-0 MASCAC) | MCLA (2-11, 0-1 MCLA)

How It Happened

First Half

Fitchburg State took a 10-4 advantage as sophomore Matthew Drayton (Boston, MA) and junior Nicolas Von Zboray (Pollack Pines, CA) netted three-pointers before MCLA answered with a three-ball from sophomore Hayden Morris-Gray (Port Jefferson Station, NY) and a layup by graduate student Jackson Brown (Latham, NY) to cut the deficit to 10-9.

The Trailblazers knotted the score at 12-12 when junior Colby Burleson (Pittsboro, NC) drained a three-pointer, but the Falcons regained the lead (21-17) with buckets by sophomore Joshua Jean Charles (Dorchester, MA) and Von Zboray.

The visitors responded with a basket from junior Craig Williams (Dover, DE) to trim the lead to 27-25 before the Green and Gold upped the advantage to 36-28 as Drayton netted a layup. The Trailblazers rallied back to make the score 36-35 going into the break when senior Quintin Gittens (Port Jefferson Station, NY) connected on a layup at the buzzer.

Second Half

Following the intermission, MCLA opened the second half on an 8-0 run with junior Jayden Mills (Bronx, NY) and Morris-Gray hitting three-balls for the 43-36 edge before Fitchburg State answered with junior Duvall Price (Lantham, MD) hitting two from the charity stripe (43-38).

The Trailblazers upped the lead to 50-42 when Morris-Gray netted a layup, but the Falcons responded with buckets by senior Nathaniel Semedo (Bridgewater, MA) and sophomore Kamau Franks (Converse, TX) to reduce the deficit to 50-48.

MCLA pushed the margin to 57-52 when Williams sank a pair of free-throws before the Green and Gold answered back with two free-throws junior Jalen Jackson (San Antonio, TX) (57-54). Fitchburg State regained the lead late in the contest when junior Jeremiah Simeon (Norwalk, CT) notched a layup and a free-throw for the 65-64 victory.

Inside the Numbers

• Von Zboray led the way for the Falcons with a team-leading 11 points, four rebounds, one assist, one steal and one block
• Jackson chipped in with 11 points, seven boards and one steal
• For the Trailblazers, Williams finished with a game-best 17 points, eight caroms and five assists
• Morris-Gray added 14 points, three rebounds, one assist and two blocks
• 115th meeting between Fitchburg State and MCLA on the basketball court with the Falcons 52-63 all-time when taking on the Trailblazers
• Fitchburg State shot 21-for-58 (36,2%) from the field and (7-of-16) 43.8% from three point range
• MCLA finished 25-of-59 (42.4%) overall and (10-for-26) 38.5% for beyond the arc
• The Trailblazers held a 41-36 edge on the glass

Up Next

Falcons return to action on Saturday as they travel to Worcester State to take on the Lancers in MASCAC action, starting at 12:00PM.

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