Men's Basketball Falls at MCLA

North Adams, Mass. - The MCLA Men's basketball team ran their winning streak to eight games, staying atop the MASCAC men's basketball standings, following a 78-69 home victory over Framingham Sate.  Chris Harris led the Trailblazers with 19 points.

MCLA is now 12-3 overall, 3-0 in the MASCAC and their eight game winning streak is the longest since the 1988-89 season.  The Rams fall to 5-9 overall, 2-2 in league play. 

After falling behind by as many as eight in the opening half (12-4), MCLA would go on a 19-2 run to take a nine point lead at the eight minute mark.  Harris would collect six points on the run while Tyriq Rochester would add a spark off the bench with a pair of tip-ins.  Framingham would cut into the lead and eventually trailed by five at the break.

In the opening minutes of the second half, MCLA would extend the margin to double digits on a three pointer from Benny Cuprill making it 45-35.  The margin would stay in double figures until Framingham made one last run at the Trailblazers. 

With the score 66-53 in favor of the hosts, the Rams would go on a 9-1 run to trim the lead to 67-62 with 3:45 to play.  MCLA's Jon Greenberg, who was held in check for most of the night, would provide his biggest basket converting a three point play with 1:39 left to extend the lead back to nine points.  MCLA secured the lead by knocking down four of six from the line in the final minute.

Harris went 7-12 from the floor including a trio of three pointers for his 19 points.  Greenberg battled constant double teams and finished with a double double of 15 points and 15 rebounds, while Cuprill was the only other Trailblazer in double figures with 13 points.

For the Rams, Royce Veal Dorchester, Mass.) exploded for 16 second half points, finishing with a game-high 20 before fouling out.  Freshman guard Tyrone Figueroa (Revere, Mass.) finished with his first double double of 16 points and 10 boards, while senior forward Brendan Carter (South Boston, Mass.) also had a double double, posting 11 points and 13 caroms.  Marcus McLaurin added 13 points for Framingham.

Both teams resume conference action on Saturday as MCLA hosts Fitchburg State on at 3 p.m. and the Rams travel to Westfield State at 3 p.m.

Release courtesy of MCLA Sports Information.