FRAMINGHAM, Mass. – The Worcester State University men's basketball team defeated Framingham State 77-59 on Wednesday evening in Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) action at the Athletic Center.
Worcester State improves to 8-10 and 3-2 in the MASCAC, while Framingham State drops to 2-14 overall and 0-4 in league play.
The Lancers were paced by 14 points apiece from Sam Dion (Barre, Mass.) and Chris Cardoso (Jamaica Plain, Mass.). Dion connected on 4-of-12 from behind the arc and added two rebounds, four assists and three steals, while Cardoso added two rebounds, three assists and two steals.
Zion Hendrix (Charlotte, N.C.) chipped in with nine points, two rebounds and four assists, while Corey Olivier (Maynard, Mass.) and Paul Roche (N. Attleboro, Mass.) added seven points apiece. Otis Wheeler (Worcester, Mass.) had five rebounds and handed out three assists.
The Rams saw three players tally double figures, led by 12 points apiece from Jahden Erold and Brett Okundaye. Erold added five rebounds and two assists, while Okundaye grabbed four boards and added a steal.
Javaris Hill chipped in with 11 points and five rebounds off the bench, while Ivan Nyantenji and Keith Hollman chipped in with six points each.
Worcester State led 7-2 on an Erik Bjorn (Holden, Mass.) layup with 16:23 on the clock. They outscored the Rams 10-2 over the next six minutes taking a 17-4 lead midway through the half.
Bjorn had a game-high 15 rebonds to go with six points, two assists and a blocked shot.
The Rams rattled off a 9-0 run featuring a pair of threes from Nyantenji and Hill layup to cut the deficit to 17-13 with 8:29 on the clock.
The Lancers answered with a 9-0 surge of their own capped by a Hendrix three that pushed the lead to 26-13 with 4:40 left. The two teams traded baskets down the stretch, with Worcester heading to the locker room leading 30-19. They opened the second half with a 10-4 run to take a 40-23 lead on a Dion three just over two minutes in. They would finish the game 12-32 (37.5%) from three-point land.
Worcester State extended the lead to 20 (47-27) on a three by Tyler Spencer (Pembroke, Mass.) just over six minutes in. The Lancers pushed the lead to as many as 31 before securing the 77-59 win.
The Rams are back in action Friday night when they host Bridgewater State at 7:30 p.m., while the Lancers head to Salem State on Saturday for a 2:00 PM game.