Cross leads Men's Basketball and Coach Shell to first victory with 71-67 win over RPI in Tri State Tournament

North Adams, MA- MCLA junior Keiland Cross scored a season high 27 points, 7 rebounds, and 4 assists in leading the Trailblazers past RPI 71-67 in the opening game of the Tri State Shootout in the Amsler Campus Center.  The victory for the Trailblazers (1-6) is the first for head coach Derek Shell in 2016. 

MCLA will advance to tomorrow's championship round and will face the winner of Fisher/Southern Vermont at 4pm.  RPI will face the loser at 2pm in the consolation game.

MCLA led 34-29 at the break and quickly opened up a 44-34 edge with 14:24 left after a Joe Murray layup.  RPI would immediately respond with a 15-0 spurt to grab their first lead of the night at 49-44 with still 9:24 left to play. 

The Trailblazers would stay close the rest of the way and when Tyler McKay knocked down a triple with 6:21 left it was 55-54 in favor of RPI.  A few minutes later, Murray would convert a three point play to tie the game at 59-59.

The three point play started a 10-0 run for MCLA and they led 66-59 with just 2:31 remaining.  RPI would get within two points after an Andreas Kontopidis layup with 17 seconds left, however Murray and Cross would both knock down a pair of FT's securing the victory for MCLA and Shell.

Cross went 11-24 from the floor for his 27 points.  McKay also netted a career high with 16 points including a 4-4 showing from beyond the arc.  Joe Wiggins would end with 12 points and 6 boards, while Murray ended with 9 points and 10 caroms.  The Trailblazers shot 45% in the win.

RPI was paced by Kontopidis' team high 16 point effort.  Brian Hatcher ended with 15 points and 7 rebounds while Asa Barnhill had 12 points.  The Engineers shot 45% from the floor and committed 14 turnovers in the loss.