Men's basketball can't get stops as Worcester defeats MCLA 82-76

North Adams, MA- The visiting Worcester State Lancers shot a torrid 59% from the floor and received 22 points and 10 rebounds from Dane Jobst in a hard fought 82-76 victory over the MCLA Trailblazers this evening.  The win earned the Lancers a split of the season series as they now sit at 7-12 overall (4-3 MASCAC).  The loss for the Trailblazers dropped them to 6-14 and 3-5 in conference play.

The Lancers Brendan Rios also had a solid night scoring 21 points on 8-11 shooting.  Jeremy Ross added 10 points, while Charles Gunter only scored 8 points, but dished out 7 assists.  Worcester shared the ball well as they had 22 assists on 27 field goals.

MCLA placed four players in double figures led by John Jones' 15.  Paul Maurice finished with 14 points, while Jeremic Bennett (11) and Ruben DelRosario (10) also reached double digits.

The Lancers led the entire way and were up eleven points at 70-59 following a Ross lay in with 5:33 remaining.  MCLA would cut the lead to four points on the heels of a 10-3 spurt to close the gap to just 73-69 with under three minutes left.  After each team got a defensive stop, Rios would convert an off balance three pointer as the shot clock was winding down to push the lead to seven points at 76-69 with 1:42 to play.

Bennett would answer with a three pointer of his own to pull MCLA back within four, however the Lancers would convert a pair of free throws sandwiched around a DelRosario miss to lead 78-72 with just 38 seconds left.  Maurice would make a pair at the stripe to get within four once more, and Gunter missed a pair at the line giving MCLA a chance.

Todd Hunt's hurried three was off the mark and forced to foul, the Trailblazers sent Ross to the line.  He calmly sank both freebies with 21 seconds left to ice the victory.

In the opening half, the Lancers came out hot as they started 7-8 from the floor as they bolted to a quick 17-5 lead just six minutes into the game.  The lead would be at nine points at 27-18 in favor of Worcester before MCLA would make a run to tie the game.  The Trailblazers would embark on a 13-4 spurt to tie the game at 31.  Kraig Page sparked the home team with six points in the run.

The Lancers would answer though, scoring the final five points of the half to take a 36-31 halftime lead.  Worcester shot a torrid 58% in the opening period while the Trailblazers shook off a tough start to finish at 44%.  Brendan Rios had 11 points in the opening half to pace all scorers.

MCLA shot a solid 45% from the floor as well.  The Lancers helped their cause by making 20 free throws compared to just 13 for the Trailblazers.

MCLA is back in action on Saturday when they travel to Fitchburg State.