Conquest, Davis spark MCLA men as they hold off Worcester State 71-69

Worcester, MA- Adam Conquest scored 20 points and pulled down 9 rebounds while Quran Davis sparked the Trailblazers off the bench with 13 points as MCLA overcame some free throw shooting woes to hold off Worcester State 71-69 this afternoon in MASCAC action.  The Trailblazers improve to 7-13 on the season and move to 4-5 in the conference after sweeping the Lancers.  WSU falls to 3-19 overall and is 2-7 in the league.

MCLA trailed 37-35 at halftime, and midway thru the second half, Worcester led 53-52 after Emeka Eguatu's bucket with 7:46 left in regulation.  Davis ignited the Trailblazers with a three pointer to take the lead and then drilled another on the next possession to give MCLA a 58-53 lead.  The Trailblazers would never trail again, however they couldn't fully put away the Lancers until the final whistle.

MCLA moved out to a 65-57 lead after Joe Wiggins basket with just 3:54 left, but the Lancers made back to back baskets to pull within four.  Ki-Shawn Monroe's layup extended back out to a six point edge, but Bryson Gulley's triple with 1:26 left pulled the Lancers within three at 67-64.

The Trailblazers had a chance to put away the Lancers, however missed free throws kept the Lancers close.  MCLA went 4-9 from the line in the final minute, but fortunately the Lancers couldn't take advantage.  Monroe's FT made it 68-64 with 49 seconds left, but Shaun McCarthy's spinning layup pulled the home team within two.  

Noah Yearsley made one of two FT's for MCLA with 36 seconds left.  The Lancers missed on their next possession and once again were forced to foul.  Monroe's FT made it a two possession game at 70-66, but the Lancers failed to score again.  Keiland Cross' free throw made it a five point game with just 9 seconds left, but Gulley drilled a three for the Lancers with five seconds remaining to pull within two at 71-69.

The Lancers never got an opportunity to foul again and MCLA ran out the clock preserving the hard fought win.

Conquest was 7-18 from the floor and pulled down 9 rebounds for MCLA.  Davis ended 4-6 from the floor including a 3-5 showing from beyond the arc.  Cross also finished in double figures with 11 points, he added 7 rebounds and 2 assists.

MCLA shot 38% from the floor in the win and overcame 17 turnovers.

The Lancers were paced by McCarthy's team high 15 point night after battling foul trouble.  Cal Howes and Will Watkins Jr added 13 points apiece.  Gulley ended with 12 points for the Lancers.

Worcester State shot 40% from the floor but were doomed by 23 turnovers in the loss.

MCLA will look to get to .500 in the league on Wednesday night when they host Fitchburg State in the Amsler Campus Center.