Falcons Drop Season Opener To Pride

Weston, Mass. – The Fitchburg State Men's Basketball team dropped a 68-60 decision to the Pride of Regis College this evening in non-conference action from the Higgins Court as the Falcons opened their 2022-23 campaign this evening.

The Basics

Score: Fitchburg State 60, Regis 68

Fitchburg State (0-1, 0-0 MASCAC) I Regis (1-0, 0-0 GNAC)

How It Happened

1st half

Regis broke a 5-5 tied to take an 11-5 edge in the opening minutes as senior Devante Thompson (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.) and classmate Zakaria Latifi (Holliston, Mass.) connected on back-to-back three pointers, but Fitchburg State answered with an 8-3 run, capped by a Frederick Siayor (Worcester, Mass.) three ball to make the score 18-13.

The Falcons continued to battle as junior Nathaniel Semedo (Bridgewater, Mass.) hit a jumper and classmate Javon Taylor (Cambridge, Mass.) added a pair from the charity stripe to trim the deficit to 23-19, but the Pride extended the lead to 28-22 following a Thompson layup.

The Green and Gold closed out the half on a 12-3 run though to take a 34-31 advantage into the break with Siayor netting six points, while junior Quincy Taylor (Boston, Mass.) added four points over the run.

2nd Half

Following the intermission, Fitchburg State upped the advantage (40-31) as Semedo notched back-to-back jumpers, while freshman Tyrone Manderson (Saugus, Mass.) added a layup, but Latifi drained another three ball to cut the lead to 40-36.

The Falcons answered back as senior Dayne Allen (Revere, Mass.) registered a jumper and Siayor buried a deep three pointer to push the lead to 51-38. Regis countered with bucket from Latifi and freshman Jamir Harvey (Robbins, Ill.) before the Green and Gold got a put back layup by Allen to make the score 55-48.

Trailing 56-53, the Pride regained the lead for good, going on a 12-3 run down the stretch with senior Justin Evelyn (Uniondale, N.Y.) connecting on six of the 12 points, resulting in the 68-60 final.

Inside the Numbers

• Falcons were led by Siayor with a team-leading 17 points, six rebounds, one assist, four steals and one block
• Manderson chipped in with 12 points, three caroms and one assist
• For the Pride, sophomore Russell Rau (Fitchburg, Mass.) finished with a game-best 23 points, 12 rebounds, two steals and two blocks
• Thompson added 15 points, five boards, one assist and one steal
• Ninth meeting between the two teams on the hardwood with the Falcons 4-5 all-time against the Pride
• Fitchburg State shot 24-for-65 (36.9%) from the field and (4-of-15) 26.7%% from three point range
• Regis finished 26-of-63 (41.3%) overall and (7-for-24) 29.2% for beyond the arc
• Falcons held a slim 45-43 margin on the glass

Up Next

Falcons return to action on Thursday as they host the Saints of Emmanuel College for a non-conference tilt, starting at 5:00 PM.