Men's Basketball clamps down on Framingham State to earn 58-40 road win

Framingham, MA- The MCLA men's basketball team held Framingham State to 29% shooting as they clamped down on the Rams and rolled to a 58-40 win on Thursday night.  The Trailblazers improve to 6-11 overall and are 3-3 in the league after the first rotation of play.  The Rams fall to 5-14 and are just 1-5 in the conference.

MCLA was led by Keiland Cross and Adam Conquest who each ended with 10 points.  Quran Davis added 9 points in the win.  

Framingham State was led by Manny Payton's game high 13 point night while Cameren McCloud Thomas had 12.

MCLA led 18-16 after Payton connected on a triple for the Rams with 5:18 left in the first half.  The Trailblazers would outscore the Rams 10-2 to close the half with a 28-18 lead.  The Rams shot just 26% in the half including a 1-12 showing from three point range.

MCLA never trailed in the second half and coasted home.  The hosts got within eight early at 32-24, but MCLA responded with a 10-2 spurt fueled by Cross and Conquest to extend out to a commanding 42-26 edge.  The Rams scored the next seven points to pull within nine at 42-33 with 7:15 left to play, but Mike Demartinis nailed a mid range jumper to stem the run and push the lead back to double figures.

The basket started 12-2 spurt to give MCLA their largest lead of the night at 54-35.  MCLA was never threatened the rest of the way.

MCLA owned a commanding 49-25 edge on the glass and shot 45% in the game.  The defensive effort was easily the best of the season for the Trailblazers as they held the Rams to just 2-23 from three point range as well. 

The Trailblazers bench outscored the Rams 25-5.

MCLA is back in action on Saturday when they head to Westfield State.