Bench lifts MCLA past Johnson State 67-61

North Adams, MA- The MCLA bench outscored visiting Johnson State 39-8 as the Trailblazers improved to 6-3 following a hard fought 67-61 win over the Badgers.  Johnson State falls to 2-5.  Reserve Tyrell Mosley led MCLA with a season high 18 points including four three pointers.  Fellow reserve Jamal Brown was the only other Trailblazer in double figures with 12.

MCLA fell behind early and with the visitors holding an 8-2 lead, the Trailblazers would go on a 11-4 run to take their first lead of the day.  After a Badger jumper from Andy Bousono gave Johnson a 14-13 lead, MCLA would go on an 8-0 run fueled by a pair of three pointers from Mosley.  Mosley added another trey later in the half to finish with nine in the opening period.

MCLA would extend the lead to double digits at the half 32-22.  They were aided by twelve second chance points opposed to two for Johnson.

Out of the locker room, Johnson would slowly creep back into it.  With 4:29 to go MCLA was up 57-48 following a Brown putback.  Johnson would outscore MCLA 11-4 over the next four minutes to get within a bucket on a pair of free throws from Ian Passino with 39 seconds left. 

The Badgers were forced to foul and MCLA's Brendan Kordana knocked home a pair of key free throws to extend the lead to four.  Following an errant three from Johnson and MCLA inbounding from underneath the visitor's hoop, Trailblazer Jon Greenberg broke deep and was hit in stride for a back breaking three point play.  The basket was Greenberg only field goal of the game.

Johnson State was led by Passino's team high 16 points, while Rob Key added 15.  Bousono ended in double figures with 11.

MCLA outrebounded the Badgers 51-32 in the game.

MCLA wraps up their semester play on Wednesday when they host Fisher College at 7pm.