Worcester, MA- The Worcester State Men's Basketball team (3-10, 0-0) kick off their conference schedule today as they host the Fitchburg State Falcons (4-9, 1-0) on the home court. After a tough and demanding non-conference slate of games, the Lancers are primed to begin their run to their third straight conference championship.

Final

Worcester State: 83

Fitchburg State: 69

How it Happened:

Worcester State would start the action quickly jumping out to a 14 point lead halfway through the opening half, but a time out and restructure by Fitchburg would quickly have them making inroads back into the game. Within the next four minutes the Falcons, with the help of their bench, would close the game down to just four points. Each team would begin trading baskets and points, but Fithburg seemed to find the three point magic, inching themselves closer to a tie game by the close of the opening 20 minutes. Graduate Student Sam Davies (Worcester, MA) found some magic rhythm on the court and was able to work on pushing the Lancer lead back to five while junior Shawn Hebert (Ayer, MA) would find success from deep to continue to maintain the cushion. Davies two free throws in the final second of the half would allow the Lancers to carry a 34-31 lead into the break.  

The second half would see both teams continuing to match the intensity and pressure until about midway through the second when Worcester again began to build out their lead off the crisp shooting of Davies and Hebert. With just under nine minutes to go, Wrcester would reclaim a double digit lead that they would hold on to for the remainder of the action. With the offensive success turned on in the second, Davies would end the day with 18 points, with an additional 17 points from junior Ayme Daguilh (West Boylston, MA) and 12 from Hebert. First year Camdyn Shoesmith (Bedford, MA) would claim 11 rebounds while senior Brandon Goris (Bronx, NY) would add nine more off the boards. While the Falcons had a strong showing from their bench with 27 total points, the Lancers were just as team focused, with their bench contributing 17 points.

What's Next:

The Lancers (4-10, 1-0) have a few days before they are back in action, this time on the road at Westfield State at 5:30pm on Wednesday January 15th.