Men's basketball holds off Rams 62-55, evens their MASCAC mark at 5-5

North Adams, MA- The MCLA Men's basketball team built a double digit lead, saw visiting Framingham rally to tie in the second half, then pulled away late as they earned a key 62-55 MASCAC win over the Rams this evening in the Amsler Campus Center Gym.  Khalil Paul scored a game high 19 points as MCLA moved to 8-14 overall, but are now 5-5 in the conference.  Framingham drops to 6-15 overall and is 1-9 in league play.

Todd Hunt added 11 points including a trio of three pointers for MCLA.  Ruben DelRosario and Isshiah Coleman ended with 10 points apiece.

Bertholyn Alexandre tallied 18 points in a losing effort for the Rams, while Tim McCarthy added 15 points, all of which came in the final twenty minutes.

Early in the second half,  MCLA led 33-19, their largest of the night with 18:28 left to play.  The Rams used a 13-4 spurt behind McCarthy to claw their way back in it making the score 37-32 in favor of MCLA with still 12:44 on the clock.  FSU continued to chip away and when Alexandre knocked home a free throw, it was 42-41 in favor of the Trailblazers with under 7 minutes to play.

MCLA immediately responded with a 12-1 run fueled by Coleman's two buckets and a Paul triple to grab a 54-42 lead.  The Rams would get no closer than the final margin as MCLA was able to limit the Rams on the offensive end.

In the opening half, MCLA led almost throughout.  They held a 19-11 lead after Ruben DelRosario converted a pair of free throws.  Framingham quickly cut the deficit in half after a Matthew Diver layup, but then MCLA went on a 7-0 spurt to grab a 26-15 lead, which was their largest of the half with 3:44 remaining.   The Rams would add a Charles Collins bucket, but MCLA would go into the locker room with a 28-19 lead.  MCLA held Framingham to just 30% shooting in the opening half and forced 8 turnovers.  

Paul was 6-11 from the floor for his 19 points.  He added 4 rebounds and 4 assists.  The Trailblazers shot 45% from the floor and committed a season low 7 turnovers.  

Alexandre went 7-12 from the field and snagged 8 caroms.  Patrick Cuff ended with a game best 10 boards.  The Rams finished with 13 turnovers on the night and shot just 34%.

MCLA will battle non conference foe Fisher on Saturday at 2pm and will celebrate senior day.