MCLA Men squeak past Pine Manor in overtime 87-84

Cambridge, MA- The MCLA Men's basketball team received 14 points, 11 assists, and 5 steals from Ruben DelRosario and they overcame 37 turnovers to finally squeak past Pine Manor 87-84 in overtime this afternoon in non conference action.  The Trailblazers snap a four game losing streak as they move to 3-8 overall.  The Gators drop below .500 at 4-5.

For Pine Manor, Freshman forward Curtis Hyman (New Britain, Conn.) recorded his team-leading fourth double-double as he scored a game-high 22 points and brought down 11 boards. He also had three blocks. Freshman guards Chancie Williams (Hartford, Conn.) and Tank Roberson (Pittsfield, Mass.) also had big offensive outputs as the scored 21 points apiece.

MCLA's Delrosario (Springfield, Mass.) was a perfect 10-for-10 from the free throw line in route to his team best 14 points. Senior Todd Hunt (Cambridge, N.Y.) and sophomore Adam Conquest (Gardner, Mass.) also scored in double-figures. Dakari Hannah-Wornum (Boston, Mass.) had a game-high 13 rebounds for the visitors and Isshiah Coleman (Dorchester, Mass.) had four blocks on the afternoon.

Pine Manor got its home debut off to a strong start scoring seven of the first nine points of the game and maintaining that lead for much of the first half. After a pair of Brannon Shaw (Vero Beach, Fla.) free throws, the lead was extended to seven about half way through the first act.

MCLA followed up with a 9-2 run over the next three minutes and pulled even on a Hunt free throw. However, Williams made sure his team stayed ahead knocking down two chances from the charity stripe before following up with a pair of threes. Williams had 12 points in the first half as he helped his team into the locker room with a 39-31 lead.

The Trailblazers were in control coming out of the break. They opened the second half with an 11-2 run to take their first lead of the game at 42-41. Part of their second-half comeback could be attributed to their much improved shooting as MCLA hit 16 of its 28 (57.1 percent) field goal attempts in the period.

The teams traded baskets over the next minute until Williams was able to break the streak with a three-pointer followed by a steal and lay-in to give the hosts the six-point lead. The Gators held the lead until just under the five-minute mark when Kenny Suggs (Brooklyn, N.Y.) tied the game at 65 with an old-fashioned three-point play.

This set up a thrilling final four minutes of the second half that featured four ties and three lead changes. Back-to-back dunks by Hunt and Coleman, around the three-minute mark, gave the Trailblazers a five-point lead and some energy, but the Gators refused to relent.

Roberson tied the game at 78 with 43 seconds left leaving MCLA a chance to take the lead. Then, with 30 seconds remaining, Shaw was able to draw a charge on Anthony Barbosa (Worcester, Mass.) to give the Gators an opportunity for the last shot. Freshman guard Daylon Ore (Hartford, Conn.) couldn't get his lay-in to fall and the game went into overtime. 

Ore got the scoring going in the extra period, the first overtime game for Pine Manor men's basketball, but untimely fouls got the better of the Gators down the stretch. The Trailblazers were able to capitalize on their opportunities from the free throw line and went on to the 87-84 victory.

Pine Manor won't have to wait long for another chance at their first home win as it will host Baldwin Wallace on Tuesday at 1 p.m.

MCLA is back in action on Thursday when it returns home to host Bridgewater State at 7:30 p.m.