Gittens Hits Two Key Free Throws as Men’s Basketball Pull Out 73-72 Win Over Salem State
SALEM, Mass. – The MCLA Men's Basketball team returned to the win column in their efforts to secure a home game in the first round of the MASCAC playoffs this evening. The Trailblazers are now a game and a half ahead of Salem State with two games to play after their win over the Vikings. Salem State, however, has a game in hand with three more MASCAC games on their schedule. MCLA senior Quentin Gittens scored a team-high 25 points, but none were as crucial as the game-winning one-and-one that he converted both halves of with four seconds to go.
THE BASICS:
- Date: Wednesday, February 7, 2024
- Score: MCLA 73, Salem State 72
- Records: MCLA Trailblazers 12-10 (MASCAC 6-4) | Salem State Vikings 11-10 (MASCAC 4-5)
HIGHLIGHTS
- The game was a nip-and-tuck affair, with neither team pulling more than eight points away from the other. Salem State used a 12-6 run over the course of a bit less than three minutes to take a 41-33 lead with 46 seconds left in the first half for the game's largest lead at eight points and took a 41-35 lead into halftime.
- The teams traded baskets for the first ten minutes of the second half, with the Trailblazers slowly chipping away at their deficit. A Quentin Gittens jump shot with 9:06 to go finally brought the teams even at 55-55.
- Jake Bluestein gave MCLA their first lead of the second half when he uncorked a three with 8:11 left. Craig Williams provided the Trailblazers with their largest lead of six points with just over three minutes to go.
- The Vikings refused to go away, eventually drawing even with MCLA when Jaden Castillo scored on a layup with 24 seconds left in regulation and then took the lead when Castillo converted the "and one" free throw that came with the layup.
- Coming out of a time-out with less than nine seconds left, Gittens received the inbounds pass and drove to the hoop, drawing a foul and a one-and-one opportunity for the Trailblazers. Gittens entered the game with the 18th most made free throws in all of Division III and knew what to do in this situation. He drained the first, and after a timeout by Salem to attempt to ice him, Gittens buried the second.
- The Vikings had one final chance, with Jaden Castillo finding a clear look on a three with .7 seconds on the clock, but the shot hit off the back of the rim and fell to the ground harmlessly.
- Gittens finished the game with a team-high 25 points and a team-high 12 rebounds for his 12th double-double of the season.
- Bluestein scored a career-high 17 points in 18 minutes off the bench, including four three-pointers. Bluestein provided a spark for the visitors, whose bench outscored the host's bench 20-2.
- For the fifth time in six games, Williams crossed the double-digit mark, scoring 13 points in only this third start of the season.
- Jaxen Potter gathered 11 rebounds, including five on the offensive end, to help the Trailblazers to a 23-10 advantage in second-chance points.
- Salem State's Michael Makiej led all scorers with 28 points, while Liam Byrne recorded a double-double with 17 points and 10 boards. Castillo rounded out the trio of Vikings with double-digit points, scoring 14 points while handing out six assists.
INSIDE THE NUMBERS
- Field Goals / %: MCLA 26-74 / 35.1%, Salem 28-63 / 44.4%
- 3 Points / %: MCLA 11-32 / 34.4%, Salem 5-15 / 33.3%
- Free Throw / %: MCLA 10-13 / 76.9%, Salem 11-16 / 68.8%
- Rebounds: MCLA 45, Salem 40
- Points off Turnovers: MCLA 5, Salem 6
- Second Chance Points: MCLA 23, Salem 10
- Points in the Paint: MCLA 22, Salem 34
- Bench Points: MCLA 20, Salem 2
UP NEXT:
On Saturday, MCLA will be back in action when they travel to Framingham State for a MASCAC matchup with the Rams at the FSU Athletic & Recreation Center. The teams will take the floor for a 2 p.m. tip-off.
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