Men's Basketball holds off Framingham for 8th straight win 67-64

Framingham. MA- The MCLA Men's Basketball team has been riding high as they're off to their best conference start since the 2010-11 season.  This afternoon, the Trailblazers had to work hard but ultimately earned their eighth straight victory with a hard fough 67-64 win over Framingham State.

MCLA now moves to 11-4 overall but more importantly stays atop the MASCAC at 4-0.  The Rams dip to 1-15 overall and 0-3 in the conference.

MCLA led for most of the first half and held a 29-23 edge at the half.  Framingham scored the first seven points out of the locker room to take the lead at 30-29.  The teams traded buckets for awhile but eventually the host Rams took the lead at 42-38, their largest of the half with 11:19 remaining.

MCLA answered as Quentin Gittens scored on a drive and Hayden Bird did the same to tie things up.  On their next possession, Quran Davis drilled a triple and MCLA had the lead at 45-42.

Once again the Rams would battle back and when Trevor Manyak knocked down a triple and Jared Anderson-Gordon converted a pair of FT's, the Rams led 52-49.  Bird answered for MCLA with a three ball to tie it.  After trading baskets again, Ki-Shawn Monroe gave MCLA the lead for keeps with a pair from the line.

Anderson-Gordon would pull the Rams to within one after a layup with one minute remaining at 60-59, but Noah Yearsley's layup provided some breathing room for MCLA.  FSU's Tyri Hampton converted with 42 ticks left to pull within one again at 62-61, but Yearsley once again provided the dagger with a three point play that made it 65-61. 

Framingham's John Kalton delivered a clutch three with 15 seconds left to pull within a point again, but Yearsley knocked down a pair of FT's and a last second heave from the Rams was off the mark.

Yearsley scored MCLA's final seven points and ended with a team best 13 points.  Monroe ended with 13 as well but added 8 rebounds and 4 assists.  Bird and Gittens came off the bench to score 10.

Anderson-Gordon led all scorers with 19 points.  Kalton ended with 15.

MCLA is off until Wednesday when they challenge Worcester State.