Western New England College falls to Framingham State in third-place game of Golden Bears Hoop Classic
Golden Bears Hoop Classic
Framingham State 96, Western New England College 82 (Third-Place Game)
Box Score
Clark 74, Mount Saint Mary (NY) 64 (Championship Game)
Box Score
SPRINGFIELD, Mass. – Senior forward Josue Almodovar (Holyoke, MA) scored 30 points to lead the Framingham State College men’s basketball team to a 96-82 victory over Western New England College in the third-place game of the Golden Bears Hoop Classic Saturday afternoon (Nov. 21).
This was the first win of the season for the Rams who are now 1-3.
Senior guards Chad Dixon (Brockton, MA) and Billy Carey (Abington, MA) added 17 and 15 points, respectively.
Western New England College took an early 19-11 lead before Framingham State used a 16-1 run to take a 48-32 halftime advantage. Carey keyed the first half comeback by making all four of his three-point attempts.
The Golden Bears didn’t quit gradually chipping away at the lead using a 14-5 run to get within 57-54 following a free throw by senior guard Rick Johnson (Springfield, MA) with 12:25 left. Johnson scored
on a lay-up that pulled the hosts within two at 63-61 with 9:18 remaining.
The Rams maintained their lead and had a five-point edge at 78-73 before breaking the game open with 10 unanswered points.
Almodovar, who made the All-Tournament Team, also pulled down eight rebounds and made all eight of his foul shots. He also had two assists and two steals.
Johnson finished with a game and career high 31 points making 13-of-18 field goal attempts. He also grabbed eight rebounds and had a pair of steals.
Western New England College also had two other players in double figures as junior forward Brad Thomka (Springfield, MA) tallied 16 points with five blocks and three steals. Junior guard Andre Duncan (Bronx, NY) contributed 11 points and seven rebounds.
Thomka also selected to the All-Tournament Team.
Clark 74, Mount Saint Mary, NY 64
Clark University captured the inaugural Golden Bears Hoop Classic with a 74-64 victory over Mount Saint Mary (NY) at Western New England College’s Alumni Healthful Living Center.
Senior forward Mark Alexander (Providence, RI) led four players in double figures with 21 points. He also had five rebounds, four assists, and three steals.
Senior forward Jack Minister (Manchester, England), and sophomore forwards Mitch Renshaw (Rutland, MA) and Brian Vayda (Sturbridge, MA) all added 12 points.
Vayda, the Tournament MVP, also pulled down nine rebounds and had two steals. Alexander was named to the All-Tournament Team with Vayda.
Clark trailed 37-34 at halftime, but came back in the second half going ahead for good on a three-pointer by Renshaw with 11:51 left. The Cougars led by as many as 15 points down the stretch in winning for the third time in four outings this season.
Mount Saint Mary (1-3) received 17 points and seven rebounds from sophomore forward Carlos Valdez (Slate Hill, NY) and 11 points from junior forward Tim Morris (Greenwich, NY). Junior guard Matt Weinberger (Washingtonville, NY) contributed eight points and six assists.
Valdez and Weinberger both made the All-Tournament Team.
