N. Adams, MA --- Senior Dane Jobst (Athol, MA) connected on seven of his 10 shots from the floor for a game-best 22 points as he helped pace Worcester State to an 82-76 win over MCLA this evening in MASCAC men's basketball action.
The Lancers (7-12, 4-3 MASCAC) were also highlighted by junior Brendan Rios (Easthampton, MA) who hit eight of his 11 shots on the night for a total of 21 points.
Jobst pulled down a contest-high 10 rebounds for his 13th double-double in 19 games as senior Jeremy Ross (Holden, MA) chipped in with 10 points and four boards in 15 minutes of action off the bench. Junior Charles Gunter (Boston, MA/New Mission) also dished out a career-best seven assists and added eight points for the Lancers.
Rios and Jobst combined for seven of 12 from beyond the arc for WSU who finished hitting 59 percent of their shots for the contest (27-for-46).
The Trailblazers (6-14, 3-5 MASCAC) had four in double-figure scoring highlighted by senior John Jones (Worcester, MA/South) who added 15 points, six caroms and five assists.
Sophomore Paul Maurice (Boston, MA/Snowden) chipped in with 14 points, junior Jeremic Bennett (Albany, NY) tallied 11 and classmate Ruben DelRosario (Springfield, MA/Cathedral) registered 10 points.
MCLA finished with a modest 47 percent effort from the floor, but only canned five of their 19 bids from downtown.
Worcester State grabbed the early 17-5 edge six minutes into the contest and led 27-18 at the 8:00 mark. The Trailblazers responded with a 13-4 surge to tie up the game at 31-31 with 1:23 remaining in the opening frame. Jones and junior Todd Hunt (Cambridge, MA) netted 10 points in the skein for the hosts.
WSU answered by sinking five of their last six tries from the charity stripe with baskets by Rios, Gunter and sophomore Manny Cabral (Roslindale, MA) for the 36-31 advantage at the intermission.
The Lancers opened the final stanza with an 8-2 spurt to open up a 44-33 advantage just four minutes in. The visitors maintained their distance, but the Trailblazers came right back and made it a six point game with 12:14 remaining (50-44) and again five minutes later (63-57).
As Worcester State nursed the 72-61 margin with 4:28 left, MCLA used one final push and made it a four-point contest 90 seconds later on the back of a Maurice trey (73-69).
Rios came right back with another trifecta of his down on WSU's next possession, but the Trailblazers answered the call with a Bennett triple to trail 76-72 with 1:12 remaining in regulation.
WSU though made their free throws when it counted with six at the charity stripe down the stretch for the final score.
MCLA actually led in rebounds (32-20), offensive caroms (11-5), points off turnovers (20-15), baskets in the paint (38-30) and bench scoring (27-25).
The Lancers outscored their hosts 46-45 in the final stanza and distributed the ball well with 22 assists for 27 total field goals made.
Both teams continue MASCAC play on Saturday at 3 PM. Worcester State entertains Salem State while the Trailblazers head to Fitchburg State.
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