FITCHBURG, Mass. -- Sam Dion (Barre, Mass.) scored six points in the final three minutes to help Worcester State survive with a 79-76 victory in Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) men's basketball action on Saturday afternoon.
After beating the Falcons by 31 on January 19th, on Saturday the Lancers (11-11, 6-3 MASCAC) needed a missed three-pointer at the buzzer to avoid having to go to overtime with Fitchburg (5-16, 3-7 MASCAC).
Dion, who scored 16 points and had four assists and four steals, converted a scoop layup with 2:56 remaining to break a 69-69 tie and give the Lancers the lead for good. He hit a pair of free throws and a jump shot to put the Lancers up 75-70 with under a minute left, but Fitchburg gave themselves a chance to tie. Frederick Siayor got a good look at a three-pointer from the corner, but it went long and the Lancers secured the road win.
Dion was one of four players for the Lancers in double-figures, including Ryan Rubenskas (Bridgewater, Mass.), who had a double-double with 12 points and 10 rebounds. Chris Cardoso (Jamaica Plain, Mass.) had a team-high 20 points with seven rebounds and four assists, and Tyler Spencer (Pembroke, Mass.) scored 11 points on 3-4 shooting, including 3-3 from three-point land.
Zion Hendrix (Charlotte, N.C.) had nine points, including a big jumper with the shot clock winding down to put the Lancers ahead 77-72 with 144 seconds remaining.
On the other end, Siayor grabbed an offensive rebound and laid it back up while getting fouled, but he missed the free throw to keep it a three-point Lancer lead.
Cardoso made one of two free throws, and Tajahn Joyner made a quick layup for the Falcons, who quickly fouled again. Cardoso again missed the first and hit the second to give the Lancers their final margin, 79-76.
The Falcons had a 49-45 edge on the glass, led by a game-high 15 rebounds from Quincy Taylor. They also boasted the leading scorer in the game, as Nathaniel Semedo came off the bench to score 24 points, including 5-6 from downtown.
Worcester State heads to Bridgewater for a Valentine's Day MASCAC showdown on Monday a 7:30 PM.