Gittens, Bird fuel second half surge as Men's Basketball tops Fitchburg 74-64

Fitchburg, MA-- Quentin Gittens scored a career best 21 points and Hayden Bird heated up with 12 second half points to rally the Traiblazer men's basketball team past Fitchburg State 74-64 this evening in Parkinson Gym.  MCLA (7-10) avenges an earlier loss to the Falcons and are now 2-4 in the MASCAC.  Fitchburg (4-14) falls to 2-5 in league play.

Fitchburg led 33-31 at halftime as the Falcon defense kept MCLA in check.  The second half was a different story however.  After the Falcons increased the lead to 38-31 early on and then later held the same seven point edge at 51-44, it was all MCLA.

A Gittens triple from the top of the key started off a 10-2 spurt for the visitors that was capped on Bird's corner three.  Fitchburg answered with a bucket from Dayne Allen, but Bird connected again on the next possession to give MCLA the lead for keeps with eight minutes left to play.

Fitchburg kept it close and only trailed 59-57 after a Quincy Taylor drive, but once again Bird answered with a dagger three to push the mark back to five at 62-57.   After a couple of empty possessions, Bird would drain his final three of the night with 7:00 minutes to play to make it 65-57.  The Falcons never got closer than eight the rest of the way.

Gittens was 9-18 from the floor for his 21 point night.  He added 7 rebounds and 3 assists.  Bird was just 6-15 on the night for his 17 points, however he was 4-7 from three point range in the second half alone.  Dylan Morris-Gray added 13 points and 4 assists in the win.

MCLA was 14-28 from beyond the arc in the win.

Fitchburg was paced by Tajahn Joyner and Dayne Allen.  They each ended with 12 points.  Allen completed the double double with 16 rebounds.  The Falcons were hampered by 17 turnovers in the loss.

MCLA is off until Monday when they take on Framingham State in a road tilt.