Worcester, MA --- Senior Dane Jobst (Athol, MA) finished with 20 points and a season-best 20 rebounds as he helped pace Worcester State to a 68-57 victory over Framingham State this evening in MASCAC men's basketball action at Holy Cross' Hart Center.
With the win the Lancers have won their last three games to improve to 6-12 and 3-3 in conference play. The Rams slip to 7-11 and 2-4 after the first league round robin loop.
Jobst, who tied his career high in rebounds, corralled 15 defensive boards and posted his 12th double-double in 18 contests on the campaign. Freshman Paul Brooks (Arlington, MA) added 14 points, five caroms and a season-best five blocks.
Junior Brendan Rios (Easthampton, MA) added 12 points as freshman Noris Cuevas-Nova (Amherst, MA) chipped in with 11 points. The pair combined for 10 rebounds in the victory.
Framingham State was propelled by sophomore Saleek Marshall (Avon, MA) who tallied 11 points in seven minutes off the bench, with three trifectas, while junior Ronnie DeBarros (New Bedford, MA) finished with 10 points.
Junior George Jordan (Worcester, MA/Marlboro) and junior Patrick Cuff (Medway, MA) teamed for 15 boards in the setback for the Rams.
With the score 21-17 in favor of the Lancers after 13 minutes of play, the hosts used a quick 5-0 run to post a nine-point advantage with 6:28 remaining in the period.
Framingham State got as close as six points with 4:27 left (30-24) when freshman Matt Diver (Abington, MA) converted an old-fashioned three-point play, but Worcester State closed out the frame with a 9-2 run for the 39-26 margin at the intermission.
The Lancers ballooned their halftime advantage by as much as 20 in the early minutes of the second period (46-20) and peaked at 58-35 with 7:50 on the clock.
Framingham State didn't give up as the squad was sparked by a field goal and a trey by Marshal and two lay-ups by Jordan in a 12-0 run to trail 58-47 at the 4:28 mark.
WSU responded and promptly sank four at the line with two by brooks and a pair by Rios with the 15 point margin and three minutes remaining in regulation (62-47).
In the waning moments of the contest the Lancers canned six from the charity stripe without a field goal for the final score.
Worcester State shot 43 percent from the floor for the game (20-for-47), but only connected on four of their 16 tries from beyond the arc. The Blue and Gold also missed 14 free throws, but led in total rebounds (48-42), points off turnovers (17-16) and second chance baskets (11-4).
Framingham State couldn't shrug off a poor night at the basket as they connected for 29 percent of their attempts (21-for-73) and seven of their 25 bids from downtown. The Rams finished the night up in fast break points (21-16) and bench scoring (27-10).
Worcester State takes the weekend bye and will play MCLA on the road on Tuesday in a 7:30 matchup. FSU hosts Westfield State on Saturday in a 3 o'clock MASCAC affair.