Men's Basketball Comes Up Short Against Falcons
Framingham, MA - Senior forward Peter Uzoma (Boston, MA) drained a three with 2:11 remaining in the game to lift the visiting Falcons of Fitchburg State to a 65-63 road win over the Framingham State Rams at Framingham's Athletic & Recreation Center tonight. With the win, the Falcons improve to 11-4 on the season and 3-1 in Massachusetts State College Athletic Conference (MASCAC) action, while the Rams fall to 7-11 on the season and 2-3 in the MASCAC.
The two teams were evenly matched as both teams struggled to control the game with the lead changing hands nine times throughout the course of the night and the largest lead was only eight points by Fitchburg State early in the first half. Both teams struggled from the floor as Fitchburg State connected on 31% of their attempts, while the Rams connected on 34%.
The Falcons opened up a six point lead with six minutes remaining in the game. The Rams responded with a 6-0 run of their own sparked by senior guard Michael Costa (Holbrook, MA), who sank two free throws and a jumper in the paint to tie the game at 61-61 with 3:21 remaining.
The Falcons missed an open jumper and turned the ball over; while the Rams turned the ball over twice on their next two possessions setting the stage for Uzoma's three which put the Falcons ahead for good at 64-61. Sophomore Josue Almodovar (Holyoke, MA), who finished with a game-high 20 points and 10 rebounds for the Rams, made a layup to cut the deficit to one with 1:41 remaining. Uzoma hit one of two free throws on the Falcons next possession to push the lead back two points.
The Rams had a chance to tie the game as Costa had a clean look that rattled out and possession went to the Falcons. The Rams three point specialist Bill Carey (Abington, MA) forced a turnover by the Falcons and came off a screen with a clean look at a three that rattled out. The Falcons controlled the rebound and were fouled with 15.9 seconds remaining. Almodovar rebounded the miss on the free throw and the Rams had one last possession. Costa missed an open jumper but the rebound went out of bounds to the Rams with 11 seconds remaining. Carey had one last look at a three for the win that missed and the Falcons held on for the win.
The Falcons were led by Brian Torres who had a team-high 19 points and Uzoma who finished with 11 points and a game-high 14 rebounds.
Both teams return to action on Thursday as they continue MASCAC play with the Rams hosting Westfield State at 7:30 p.m., and the Falcons hosting MCLA also at 7:30 p.m.