Men's Basketball Opens Season with 75-72 Win Over Newbury

Brookline, Mass. – The Framingham State University men's basketball team opened the 2016 season this evening with a 75-72 victory on the road over Newbury College at Hellenic College. The Rams are now 1-0 on the year, while the Nighthawks are 0-1.

Sophomore Manny Payton (Fitchburg, Mass.) paced the Rams with 17 points including a pair of free throws down the stretch that sealed the victory.  Senior Wesley Ogbevoen (Boston, Mass.) added 14 points and eight boards.

Freshman Steve Vayda (Oxford, Mass.) chipped in with 13 points and eight rebounds off the bench, while junior Tony Alexandre (Hyde Park, Mass.) added a double double of 12 points and 14 rebound.  Alexandre connected on six-of-seven from the field and grabbed 12 boards on the defensive end.

With 2:08 remaining and the Nighthawks ahead 69-65, Nighthawks senior Devin Johnson (Manchester, Conn.) converted a layup and foul shot, putting Newbury College ahead 72-65.  Vayda (Oxford, Mass.) made consecutive three's in a 1:03 span to pull within one at 72-71 with one minute remaining.

On the Nighthawks next possession, Johnson missed a jump shot, giving the Rams a chance to retake the lead and with 27 seconds remaining, Rams senior Tim Mangano (Winchester, Mass.) converted a layup to put his side up by one, 73-72.

With the game clock under 10 seconds, junior Daivon Edwards (Roxbury, Mass.) had a good look from 25 feet out, but his shot missed and was rebounded by Framingham State.

Following two made free throws by Payton that put the Rams up three with three seconds remaining, Johnson would find the ball in his hands with a last second shot from 35 feet out. His attempt hit front iron as the buzzer rang, completing the Rams comeback for a 75-72 victory. 

The Rams are back in action on Friday night and Saturday with a pair of games at the Williams College Tip-Off Tournament.