Posted: Jan 30, 2019
Strong Second Half Sends Worcester State Past Men's Basketball
Framingham, Mass. – The Framingham State University men's basketball team were defeated at home tonight 81-72 by Worcester State Univeristy in Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) action at the Athletic Center.
THE BASICS:
- Score: Worcester State 81, Framingham State 72
- Records: Framingham State (5-15, 4-4 MASCAC), Worcester State (11-10, 4-4 MASCAC)
- Location: Athletic Center – Framingham, Mass.
HOW IT HAPPENED:
- The two teams traded baskets and the lead over the first six minutes of the game, before the Rams used a 5-0 run to take a 15-10 lead on three from senior Manny Payton (Fitchburg, Mass.) with 12:29 on the clock.
- The Lancers closed the gap to 18-16 on a three point play from junior Shaun McCarthy (Oxford, Mass.) with 11 on the clock.
- The Rams pushed the lead back to five before the Lancers tied the game at 25-25 on a freebie from McCarthy.
- The Lancers closed the frame with a 12-6 run taking a 37-31 lead at the break.
- Worcester State opened the second half with a 5-0 run extending the advantage to 42-31, but the Rams cut the gap to seven on a layup from junior Tyri Hampton (Fitchburg, Mass.) with just over 13 minutes remaining.
- Worcester extended the lead back to 12 on a McCarthy free throw with just over ten on the clock. The Rams answered and closed the gap to six (63-57) after a layup from senior Khaneil Bruce (Cambridge, Mass.) and a long two from Payton.
- Worcester extended the lead back to as many as 12 with two minutes remaining, before a Payton hit a jumper in the final seconds to reach the final margin.
INSIDE THE NUMBERS:
- Payton, who did not come off the floor during the game, led all scorers with a game-best 30 points on 12-of-20 from the floor. He added five boards and two assists.
- Sophomore Cameren McCloud-Thomas (Springfield, Mass.) added 14 points and six rebounds, while classmate Trevor Manyak was the third Ram in double figures with 13 points.
- The Lancers were paced by 17 points apiece from McCarthy and sophomore Erik Bjorn. McCarthy finished with a double double as he grabbed a game-best 13 boards.
- Junior Frantz Francois (Boston, Mass.) added 12 points for the visitors off the bench, while junior Tyler Dion added 11.
UP NEXT:
The Rams are back in action on Saturday when they host Salem State in a MASCAC tilt at 1 p.m., while the Lancers travel to MCLA on Saturday at 3 p.m.