Framingham, MA --- Highlighted by a near double-double effort by sophomore Paul Brooks (Arlington, MA) and senior Charles Gunter (Boston, MA/New Mission) corralled a game-best 11 boards, Worcester State defeated Framingham State, 41-37, in MASCAC men's basketball action this evening at the FSU Athletics Center.

Worcester State runs their streak to two games to improve to 5-14 (2-4 MASCAC) while the Rams fall to 5-12 overall and are still in search for their first league win (0-6 MASCAC).

On the ninth lead change of the contest, Framingham State staked the 27-25 edge with 9:20 remaining in regulation following consecutive points at the line by junior Tim McCarthy (Wilmington, MA).

Worcester State responded and opened up their largest margin of the game at 35-27 in a 10-0 spurt five minutes later. The Lancers took control on a trey by sophomore Marquez McKreith-Collins (Springfield, MA/Cathedral) as he underscored four players that canned five baskets at the charity stripe in the surge.

The Rams didn't go away quietly as sophomore Daniel Gould (Quincy, MA) buried a trifecta at the top of the arc and two more points at the free throw stripe to help the hosts trail by three at the 3:23 mark (35-32).

Following a turnover and a missed shot by the Lancers and a trifecta that came up empty by Framingham State, junior Manny Cabral (Boston, MA/Roslindale) nailed a three-pointer of his own to put the Lancers up 38-32 with just under 1:10 left to play.

McCarthy though had other plans as he kept the pressure on by hitting his own three less than 30 seconds later to maintain a one-possession deficit.

After Gunter was fouled and he made the first of his two tries with the bonus, the Rams had a golden opportunity with 41 ticks on the clock, but failed to find the net with three missed field goals – including two from long distance.

FSU did net two points on the possession following a timeout with 9.8 seconds on the scoreboard, but sophomore Ryan DiBernardo (Springfield, MA/Cathedral) iced the game by converting both of his tries a the free throw line to seal up the victory.

It was a dog-fight over the course of the opening stanza as the Lancers took the 14-13 advantage into the locker room at the intermission – the seventh lead change up to that point – on the back of a triple by senior Brendan Rios (Easthampton, MA).

Brooks had solid numbers with nine points, nine boards and two blocks while Rios and Gunter chipped in with seven points apiece.

McCarthy led all scorers with 13 points and five caroms as Gould poured in eight points to lead the hosts.

Neither team shot well from the floor as the Lancers connected for 27 percent of their shots overall (12-for-44) and generated over one third of their offense at the charity stripe (14-for-23 – 61 percent).

WSU also held leads in rebounds (41-35), second chance baskets (12-6) and points in the paint (14-10).

The Rams weren't much better connecting for a meager 23 percent overall (11-for-47) and the hosts only cashed in on six of their 25 attempts from downtown (24 percent). The FSU bench outscored their counterparts, 14-9.

Worcester State will play again on Tuesday next week when they entertain MCLA at Nichols in an 8 PM contest. Framingham State gets back at it again this Saturday on the road against Westfield State at 3 o'clock.