Falcons Defeated By Lions In Non-Conference Action

Fitchburg, MA – The Fitchburg State Men's Basketball team dropped an 82-68 decision to the Lions of Eastern Nazarene College this evening in non-conference action from the Parkinson Gymnasium.

The Basics

Score: Fitchburg State 68, Eastern Nazarene 82

Fitchburg State (2-8, 0-0 MASCAC) I Eastern Nazarene (3-8, 1-2 NAC)

How It Happened

1st half

Eastern Nazarene opened the contest with a 6-2 lead on buckets from junior Carlos Reynoso (Clifton, NJ) and Khabri Davis (Peoria, AR) before Fitchburg State answered with a Javon Taylor (Cambridge, MA) jumper (6-4). The Lions pushed the lead to 14-9 as junior Darrell Hardge (Hialeah, FL) drained a three-pointer, but the Falcons countered with a Matthew Drayton (Boston, MA) layup to make the score 14-11.

The visitors extended the advantage to 22-13 with junior Kobe Jones (Picayune, MS) bucket, but the Green and Gold trimmed the deficit to 22-15 as freshman Kamau Franks (Converse, TX) sank a pair from the charity stripe. Fitchburg State cut the lead to 331-19 as Drayton and newcomer Braeden White (Spencer, MA) notched baskets before Eastern Nazarene took a 45-23 lead into the break on a Elijah Bishop (St. Louis, MO) three-pointer.

2nd Half

Following the intermission, Fitchburg State cut into the lead as Drayton and Franks registered three-point plays (52-31) before Eastern Nazarene answered with a Hardge layup for the 54-35 margin. The Green and Gold continued to cut into the lead with newcomer Donald Brown Jr (Baltimore, MD) connecting on a deep three and Siayor adding a layup to make the score 61-42, but the Lions countered as freshman Martinie Kamga (Yaounde, Cameroon) hit a jumper for the 63-42 edge.

The Falcons went on a 9-0 run, keyed by seven points from freshman Keajuan Beco (Louisville, KY) to reduce the deficit to 65-53, but Kamga notched a layup for the Lions to make the score 67-53. Beco knocked down another three ball for the Green and Gold (72-60) before Eastern Nazarene secured the victory as Reynoso connected on a layup, resulting in the 82-68 final.

Inside the Numbers

• Falcons were led by Drayton with a game-best 26 points and six boards
• Beco added ten points, four caroms and two steals
• For the Lions, Kamga finished with a team-leading 19 points, 13 rebounds, two assists and two blocks
• Jones chipped in with 13 points, three boards, three assists and one steal
• Fifth meeting between the two team on the hardwood with the Falcons 3-2 all-time when taking on the Lions
• Fitchburg State shot 29-for-87 (33.3%) from the field and (5-of-26) 9.2% from three-point range
• Eastern Nazarene finished 30-of-57 (52.6%) overall and (8-for-17) 47.1% for beyond the arc
• Falcons held a 49-43 advantage on the glass

Up Next

Falcons return to action on Friday, December 29th when they take on the Seahawks of St. Mary's (MD) in opening round action of the 2023-24 St. Mary's Tournament, starting at 3:00PM..

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