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Posted: Jan 07, 2009

Men's Basketball Opens Second Half of Season with 71-65 Win Over Wheelock

Men's Basketball Opens Second Half of Season with 71-65 Win Over Wheelock
Box Score

Framingham, MA - Junior guard Chad Dixon (Brockton, MA) scored 13 of his team-high 18 points in the second half as the Rams held off a late surge by the Wheelock College Wildcats en route to a 71-65 non-conference win tonight at Framingham's Athletic Center.  With the win, the Rams improve to 8-5 on season while the Wildcats slip to 2-8.

Framingham State opened up a 12 point lead at the half as they connected on 45.2% of their shots from the floor (14 of 31), while the Wildcats shot only 21.2% (7 of 33).  Junior forward Davis Saltmarsh (Bow, NH) led the Rams in the opening frame with seven points on 3 of 5 shooting from the field.

The Rams extended their lead to as many as 18 in the second half before Wheelock mounted a late comeback and cut the Rams lead to six with 3:53 remaining in the game.  Junior forward Roderick Jackson (Cambridge, MA) scored nine of the Rams next 11 points as they used an 11-5 run to extend their lead back to 12 with 1:55 remaining in the game. 

The Wildcats were able to cut the Rams lead back to five with 18 second remaining on a layup from sophomore forward Dan Puchala (Malden, MA) but the Rams were able to hold on for the win.

Dixon, who finished with 18 points, five rebounds and four assists, led four Rams in double figures.  Jackson finished with 15 points, seven boards and two blocks, while Saltmarsh finished with a season high 11 points and three blocks.  Junior guard Bill Carey (Abington, MA) struggled from the floor but still finished the night with 10 points, five assists and three steals, while Darius Yarrell (Brockton, MA) added eight points, seven rebounds and nine assists. 

Sophomore Dan Main (Hopedale, MA) led the Wildcats with a game-high 21 points and five rebounds.  Freshman guards Kyle Pierce (Burlington, MA) and Victor Kashouh (Providence, RI) added 15 and 10 points respectively for Wheelock.    

The Rams return to action on Saturday as they begin conference play on the road at Fitchburg State at 3 p.m., while the Wildcats travel to Southern Vermont for a 2 p.m. tip-off.