Men’s Basketball Hold On To Win Fourth Straight MASCAC Opener, 76-71 Over Fitchburg State

NORTH ADAMS, Mass. – The MCLA Men's Basketball team returned from the winter break by opening their MASCAC regular season with a 76-71 victory over Fitchburg State. A trio of Trailblazers finished with double-digit points, including a career-high 11 points for sophomore Craig Williams.

THE BASICS:

• Date: Wednesday, January 3, 2024
• Score: Fitchburg State 71, MCLA 76
• Records: Fitchburg State 2-11 (MASCAC 0-1) | MCLA Trailblazers 6-6 (MASCAC 1-0)

HIGHLIGHTS

• The game was a back-and-forth affair until a 22-7 run by MCLA saw them work out to the largest lead for either team when they led 31-16 with just over four minutes remaining in the first half. The Falcons responded with an 11-4 run of their own to close out the half and take the momentum into the locker room at halftime, trailing by eight, 35-27.
• The momentum remained with Fitchburg to open the second half, with the Falcons MCLA opening the frame with an 8-0 run over the first four minutes of the half to pull even at 35 all.
• The teams traded baskets over the next six minutes with three ties and nine lead changes until Jake Bluestein put the Trailblazers in front 52-49 with a three-pointer from the left elbow after an offensive rebound by Hayden Morris-Gray with about ten and a half minutes remaining.
• A three from Dylan Morris-Gray got the second-half lead to as much as 13 points at 64-51 with 7:30 remaining.
• The Falcons would not go without a fight, using a 20-7 run that was capped by a three from Frederick Siayor to pull ahead 71-70 with 1:25 to go. A pair of made free throws from Craig Willams finally put MCLA in front for good with 1:04 on the clock.
• Quentin Gittens led the Trailblazers with 17 points, including 12 in the first half, and pulled down a game-high eight rebounds.
• Hayden Morris-Gray tacked on 15 points on the strength of an 8-11 showing at the free throw line.
• Williams had a career-high 11 points in 17 minutes off the bench for MCLA.
• Siayor scored a game-high 28 points, while Kamau Franks added 13 for Fitchburg.
• The victory marks the fourth straight season in which the Trailblazers have won their MASCAC opener, with victories against Westfield State in the last two seasons and against Bridgewater State in 2020.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

• Field Goals / %: FSU 25-61 / 41%, MCLA 24-60 / 40%
• 3 Points / %: FSU 6-16 / 37.5%, MCLA 7-26 / 26.9%
• Free Throw / %: FSU 15-24 / 62.5%, MCLA 21-27 / 77.8%
• Rebounds: FSU 38, MCLA 44
• Points off Turnovers: FSU 10, MCLA 4
• Second Chance Points: FSU 4, MCLA 9
• Points in the Paint: FSU 28, MCLA 30
• Bench Points: FSU 16, MCLA 33

UP NEXT:

On Saturday, MCLA will be back in action when they travel to Westfield State for a MASCAC matchup with the Owls at the Woodward Center. The teams will take the floor for a 2 p.m. tip-off.

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