Payton's Last Second Basket Lifts Men's Basketball Past Fitchburg State 73-71

Framingham, Mass. – Senior guard Manny Payton (Fitchburg, Mass.) nailed a floater in the paint with 12.5 seconds remaining to lift the Framingham State University men's basketball team to a 73-71 come from behind victory over Fitchburg State University this afternoon in Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) action at the Athletic Center. 

THE BASICS:

- Score:  Framingham State 73, Fitchburg State 71

- Records: Framingham State (2-11, 1-0 MASCAC), Fitchburg State (4-9, 0-1 MASCAC)

- Location: Athletic Center – Framingham, Mass.

HOW IT HAPPENED:

• The Falcons led 10-6 seven minutes into the game on a put back from sophomore Charles Doss and then led by as many as five on several occasions.
• The Rams cut the deficit to two on a pair of occasions including on a three from junior Tyri Hampton (Fitchburg, Mass.) with 6:33 on the clock and on a layup by Hampton with 3:51 remaining that cut the Falcon lead to 25-23.
• The Falcons closed the frame with a 7-2 run including six points from Nicholas Tracy to take a 32-25 lead at the break.
• The Falcons used a run to open the second half and take a 44-37 lead just over seven minutes into the frame.  The Rams countered and tied the game at 46-46 on a three point play from freshman Tomas Donoyan (Belmont, Mass.) with 8:30 on the clock, but another run by the Falcons pushed the advantage to 57-50 with just over six left.
• The Rams tied the game at 62-62 on a three from Payton with 3:40 on the clock, but the Falcons pulled ahead 67-64.
• A three from Hampton tied the game at 69-69 with 1:24 on the clock, but the Falcons answered with a pair of free throws from Tracy retaking the lead 71-69. On the next possession, Hampton converted a layup knotting the game at 71-71.
• On their next possession, the Falcons missed a shot in the paint and senior Khaneil Bruce (Cambridge, Mass.) secured the rebound setting up Payton's game-winner.  Payton drove the lane, spun in traffic and converted the floater with 12.5 on the clock.
• After a timeout, the Falcons had possession, but the Rams defense swarmed and the visitors could not get a shot off before time expired.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS:

• Payton paced all players with a game-high 24 points connecting on nine of 14 from the floor to go along with two rebounds, five assists and three steals.
• Hampton finished the game with 15 points and five boards, while sophomore James Purcell (Leominster, Mass.) poured in 12 points with six boards off the bench.  Bruce finished the game with seven points and a game-best 14 rebounds.
• The Falcons received 22 points apiece from Tracy and Jonathan Perez.

UP NEXT:

Both teams resume MASCAC action on Wednesday evening with the Rams traveling to Worcester State for a 5:30 p.m. game and the Falcons hosting Salem State also at 5:30 p.m.