Worcester State Uses Late Run to Defeat Men’s Basketball 66-55 in MASCAC Opener

Framingham, Mass. – The Worcester State University men's basketball team closed the game with a 14-2 run over the final seven minutes to defeat the Framingham State University Rams in the Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) opener for both schools this evening at Framingham's Athletic Center.

With the victory the Lancers improve to 4-7 on the season and 1-0 in the conference, while the Rams slip to 6-7 overall and 0-1 in the MASCAC.

The two teams traded the lead for the first ten minutes of the game with neither team leading by more than four.  Tied 23-23 with 7:01 remaining in the half, the Lancers used a three minute, 5-0 spurt to take the half's largest lead (28-23).  Mike Gittens (Uncasville, Conn.) started the spurt with a jumper and Robert Hunter (St. Louis, MO) added a put back on the offensive glass. 

The Rams cut the deficit to two on a pair of Tyrone Figueroa (Revere, Mass.) free throws with 53 seconds left in the first, but a pair of Frank Stephenson (Fall River, Mass.) freebies gave the Lancers a four point lead at the break.  Stephenson led all scorers with 12 first half points.

To start the second half, the two teams once again traded the lead through the opening minutes.  With the Lancers leading 39-38 with 13:55 remaining, the Rams rattled off a 13-6 capped by an Andre Santana (Worcester, Mass.) dunk on the break to take a 51-45 advantage.

The Lancers answered with a run of their own to take the lead for good.  Worcester State outscored the Rams 21-4 over the final 10:04 of the game and 14-2 over the final 7:46.  Gittens led the Lancers over the stretch with seven points, while Kyle Ferreira (Westport, Mass.) added a pair of threes.

Stephenson led a trio of Lancers in double figures with a team-high 16 points on 4-of-8 shooting from the field to go along with three rebounds, three assists and four steals.  Gittens finished with 14 points, while Hunter chipped in a double double of 13 points and 12 rebounds.  Monte Goodwin (Boston, Mass.) just missed a double double with eight points and a game-high 14 rebounds.

The Rams were led by Figueroa, who was the only Ram to record double figures, with a game-best 18 points despite struggling from the floor in the game, while sophomore Juan Lopez (Holyoke, Mass.) and senior Allen Saint-Surin (Brockton, Mass.) chipped in eight points apiece and Santana added seven.

The Rams return to action on Tuesday at Bridgewater State University at 7:30 p.m., while the Lancers host Westfield State University on Tuesday evening at 8 p.m.