Fitchburg, MA --- Senior Charles Gunter (Boston, MA/New Mission) tossed in a career-best 22 points with six rebounds as he helped lead Worcester State to a 58-56 win over Fitchburg State in MASCAC men's basketball action this evening at the FSU Recreation Center.

With the victory, the Lancers improve to 6-18 and 3-8 overall and clinch a spot in next week's league tournament. The Falcons slip to 14-10 overall and dip to 6-5 against conference opponents in the setback.

As Fitchburg State led 44-37 midway through the second period, senior Manny Cabral (Boston, MA/Roslindale, MA) sparked an 11-4 spurt with a trifecta and he finished off the run with a pair of free throws to equalize the score 48-48 at the 6:11 mark.

Scoring went basket for basket over the next several minutes until Falcon junior Kwame Lee (Brockton, MA) nailed a jumper in the paint with 18 ticks left to tie up the score for the fifth time in the stanza at 56-56.

Worcester State, however, responded when Gunter gave his club the one-point edge on the front end of a bonus try as eight moments remained in regulation.

On the ensuing rebound on the other freebee, Cabral corralled the board and he was promptly fouled to stop the clock. After Cabral drilled his final attempt for the 58-56 edge, junior Kenyon Armstrong (Brockton, MA) had a chance to tie the score for Fitchburg State, but his transition lay-up rimmed in and out of the basket as the final buzzer sounded.

The Lancers originally jumped out to a 19-9 advantage with 8:33 on the clock in the opening period before the Falcons outscored the visitors 10-0 as Lee keyed the run with six points to trail 21-19 four minutes later.

Back-to-back triples by freshman Isaiah Tatum (Worcester, MA/Holy Name) and senior Brendan Rios (Easthampton, MA) helped put the Blue and Gold up six as 2:36 read on the clock, but Armstrong stroked two free throws and he drilled a trey to help the hosts narrow the gap to 27-26 at the intermission.

Fitchburg State opened the second stanza with a quick 12-5 skein to open up a 39-31 margin just 3½ minutes into the frame and the Falcons maintained their margin, leading by six with with 10:17 remaining in regulation (44-37).

Rios did a little bit of everything to finish with seven points, five helpers and five boards while Cabral chipped in with nine points, three caroms, a trio of helpers and three swipes. Sophomore Paul Brooks (Arlington, MA) added eight points, five rebounds and four blocks.

Lee went 9-for-14 from the field and he finished with squad-highs of 19 points and 11 rebounds. Junior Givaughn Jones (Dorchester, MA) and sophomore Jalen Williams (Meriden, CT) both chipped in with eight points apiece as Jones also grabbed nine rebounds for the Falcons.  

Worcester State finished with a modest 37 percent clip overall for the game (18-for-49), but missed 10 free throws (63 percent – 17-for-27). WSU also led in rebounds (35-34), offensive boards (14-12), second chance baskets (12-7) and points off turnovers (20-15).

Behind an effort that saw the hosts make half of their shots in the second period (52 percent – 12-for-25), the Falcons connected for 44 percent in the contest (24-for-55).

The Lancers actually outscored their opponents, 31-30, in the final stanza alone while FSU held the points in the paint margin (38-26).

Both squads will finish off the regular season on Saturday afternoon at home in a pair of 3 PM tip-offs. Worcester State entertains Framingham State at Quinsigamond Community College while Fitchburg State plays host to Westfield State.

With tonight's men's basketball season series sweep of Fitchburg State, the Lancers are now virtually tied up, 5.5-5.5, points with the Falcons in the Sterling Cup series.