Men's Basketball Hold Off Rams In Conference Tilt

Fitchburg, MA – The Fitchburg State Men's Basketball team defeated the Rams of Framingham State University, 61-59 this evening in Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) action from the Parkinson Gymnasium.

The Basics

Score: Fitchburg State 61, Framingham State 59

Fitchburg State (3-16, 1-5 MASCAC) I Framingham State (5-14, 0-6 MASCAC)

How It Happened

1st half

Fitchburg State raced out to a 9-4 edge on a three-pointer from freshman Kamau Franks (Converse, TX) before Framingham State cut the lead to 9-7 as junior Adonis Vashon (Grand Rapids, MI) drained a three-ball. The Falcons pushed the advantage to 18-10 when junior Frederick Siayor (Worcester, MA) connected on back-to-back layups, but the Rams trimmed the deficit to 18-14 on a pair of free-throws by newcomer Javaun Calhoun (New Haven, CT).

The Green and Gold responded with an 8-0 run as freshmen Braedon White (Spencer, MA) and Matthew Drayton (Dorchester, MA) knocked down three-balls, while Franks added a layup, but the visitors answered as junior Duane Mason Jr (Oxon Hill, MD) connected on a jumper (29-16). Framingham State cut the deficit to 31-24 on two free-throws from Vashon before the Falcons took a 33-24 lead into the break on a Franks jumper.

2nd Half

Following the intermission, Fitchburg State upped the advantage to 37-25 as senior Javon Taylor (Cambridge, MA) registered a layup before Framingham State countered with a three-pointer by senior Bryan Thompson (Jamaica, NY). The Rams battled back to trim the deficit to 42-37 when junior JD Okafor (Boston, MA) hit a layup, but the Falcons grabbed a 48-40 margin on a Drayton bucket.

Framingham State reduced the lead to 55-53 as Thompson connected on a free-throw and a basket, but the Green and Gold answered back with Drayton burying a three-ball (58-53), The Falcons upped the lead to 60-57 on a White layup before the Rams countered on two from the charity stripe by Okafor. Fitchburg State secured the victory however when Taylor hit one-of-two from the free-throw line, resulting in the 61-59 final.

Inside the Numbers                                                                                                 

• Falcons were led by Drayton with a game-leading 19 points and two boards
• Taylor added 11 points, nine rebounds, three assists, three steals and one block
• For the Rams, Okafor finished with a team-best 14 points, seven caroms, one steal and one block
• Thompson chipped in with 13 points, four boards, two assists and one steal
• 96th meeting between Fitchburg State and Framingham State on the hardwood with the Falcons 43-53 all-time when taking on the Rams
• Fitchburg State shot 25-for-58 (43.1%) from the field and (7-of-15) 46.7% from three-point range
• Framingham State finished 20-of-55 (36.4%) overall and (6-for-28) 21.4% for beyond the arc
• Rams held a 43-31 advantage on the glass

Up Next

Falcons return to action on Saturday as they host the Trailblazers of MCLA for a MASCAC clash, starting at 200PM.

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