Worcester, MA- After a holiday break in the Lancers action of nearly three weeks, they returned to play with a trip to Salem, VA in game one of the Cregger Invitational hosted by Roanoke College. The Lancers looked to continue their winning ways as they aim to pick up their fifth straight win of the season when they take on ODAC power house Roanoke College who are just coming off a hard battle on December 20th with a loss to Catholic University.

Final:

Worcester State: 73

Roanoke: 87

The first half of action saw the Lancers and Maroons battle it up and down the court with Roanoke grabbing the opening basket of the game and putting Worcester on their defensive heals early. The Maroons would grab an early lead before Worcester would secure their opening points of the match at about four minutes into the action off a quick jumper from junior Aaron Nkrumah (Worcester, MA). Early fouls from the Lancers sent Roanoke to the line throughout the first half adding an additional layer of defensive pressure to the Lancers as they worked to find their way out of an early double digit deficit. After a shooting foul sent junior Brandon Goris (Bronx, NY) to the line for one, the Lancers quickly began to work their way back into the match, cutting the lead down into the single digits as they continuously stripped the Maroons of possession. A timeout called by Roanoke, hoped to help them reset their focus but the Lancers refused to concede any ground. The Lancers tight defense would see them wrack up some additional fouls but with three pointers from seniors Sam Dion (Barre, MA) and Ryan Rubenskas (Bridgewater, MA) and the strong play in the paint from Worcester, the team would stay on the Maroons momentum halfway through the first. 

Further support from a mix of the bench and starters, such as additions from junior Suubi Nkugwa (Chelmsford, MA), graduate student Zion Hendrix (Charlotte, NC), first year Jaylen Kirkland (Gardner, MA) and Dion, Worcester remained on pace with Roanoke for the remainder of the half while stemming off potential foul trouble for the team. With just under four minutes to go in the first, the Lancers closed the gap to just three points on the Maroons as they kicked up their pressure in a bid to grab the lead before halftime. Roanoke finding themselves in double bonus with just under two minutes had late run potential but Worcester's defensive pressure stemmed any large point grabs to bring the Lancers into halftime with a score of 40-41, having cut the lead down to a single point. 

The second half started with the same intensity of the first and a jumper from Rubenskas would grab the Lancers their first lead of the game. The Maroons would tie the game at 43 beginning a second half battle between the teams. The defense in the paint was dominant for the Lancers with blocks and rebounds from Goris, Rubenskas and others that slowed the offensive attack while the Lancers struggled to maintain solid possession for scoring opportunities, keeping the game to single digits nearly halfway through the second. As Worcester struggled to find baskets in the second half, the defensive pressure held firm allowing Roanoke to only jump ahead a couple baskets, still keeping the teams within easy striking distance of each other. 

Worcester and Roanoke would trade baskets back and forth, with Goris adding to his total as he added an offensive aggressiveness to the court as the final 10 minutes of regulation clicked away, with Worcester sitting just three points down. In this final stretch, Roanoke found their code to the Worcester defense grabbing a quick three and a jumper to quickly jump out to an 8 point lead. Goris would be fouled in action and go to the line to see the lead quickly chopped down to six in what turned the game into a free throw shooting contest. As Nkrumah recorded his first baskets, two free-throws, of the second the Lancers put a big dent into Roanoke's lead with a Dion rebound and dish to Hendrix for a quick three pointer to cut the lead to four. As the final three minutes clicked down, the Lancers amped up the offensive attack in a bid to come away with the win in Virginia. The added offensive pressure left room for Roanoke to counter and built up their lead and with some quick breaks down the court, jumped ahead by eight points. With time ticking away, Worcester worked to get back into the game, but a free throw line battle would see Roanoke walk away with the contest with a score of 87-73.

Worcester State (6-5, 0-0) returns to action tomorrow at 12pm when they face off against the loser of the Sewanee vs. Ohio Wesleyan, in the consolation game of the Cregger Invitational.