Worcester, MA- The Worcester State Lancers (10-7, 4-0 MASCAC) tipped off against the Framingham State Rams (5-12, 0-4) in their quest to extend their conference winning streak to seventeen straight games dating back to last season. 

FINAL: LANCERS 72 | FRAMINGHAM ST. 59

PREGAME NOTES:

• The Lancers look to further their conference winning streak to seventeen straight games dating back to last season where they were undefeated in MASCAC play. 

• Junior forward and Preseason All-American selection Aaron Nkrumah (Worcester, MA) is top ten in four major statistical categories per game averaging a conference-best 20.5 ppg, 2.7 stl/g (second), 0.9 blk/g (fifth), 2.6 ast/g (ninth), and 8.2 reb/g (sixth).

• Senior center Ryan Rubenskas (Bridgewater, MA) currently ranks third in blocks per game (2.2 blk/g), fourth in rebounds (9.1 reb/g), and eighth in ppg (14.6 ppg).

• First-year Jaylen Kirkland (Gardner, MA) ranks third in conference three-point percentage (39.2%)

HOW IT HAPPENED:

Worcester scored the first bucket of the game on a play created by the ball handling of graduate senior guard Zion Hendrix (Charlotte, NC), freeing up an open Rubenskas for a quick layup.

Rubenskas was called for a second foul five minutes into the game forcing coach Tyler Hundley to substitute one of his key players out early. Junior Brandon Goris (Bronx, NY) showcased his ability to get to the basket as the guard drove the right side of the paint, elevating and spinning for the bucket and the foul. 

Senior guard Sam Dion (Barre, MA) locked in defensively, rippeing a steal from a Framingham player creating a fastbreak where the senior was able to dish the ball to Hendrix who dished it back to Dion for an open three, cutting the deficit to one. 

Making a case for Defensive Player of the Year, Nkrumah showcased his vision as he's done all year to steal a pass in the lane and find open court in front of him for a drive, layup, and bucket with a body on him as he created contact for the and-one opportunity that he would convert.

Junior forward Johnny Annan (Worcester, MA) was inserted into the game making his presence known, the forward rejected two shot attempts from the Rams within a minute of each other. Kirkland open and waiting for the ball in his deadly sweet spot hit an open three from the right side that was good, improving his impressive three-point percentage numbers. Hendrix followed suit, firing a three from downtown to extend Worcester's lead to 26-22 with 3:15 remaining. 

Rubenskas with the ball put up a shot that missed, but continued the play and not giving up took down his own offensive rebound, going back up with it for two points. The 6' 8" man followed that sequence with two back-to-back blocks on the same Ram player after he was able to retain the ball after the first block.

SECOND HALF: 

The second half started with a Rubenskas block leading to a transition offense and a fast-break where Nukrumah cut to the basket and elevated for an alley-oop attempt with a Framingham player in his airspace, fouling him as he was mid-dunk attempt sending him to the line for two where he hit both shots.

The game quickly became the Dion three-point show. The guard and his hot hand drained multiple threes in the half, one being a deep three well behind the line, erupting the bench with them supporting their teammate who could not miss for much of the game. Hendrix, also feeling it from a distance hit two threes in the half to help grow the Lancer lead on their way to the team's win. 

Showcasing the team's ability to play defense and finish with points, Rubenskas stole a pass leading to transition offense once again with Rubenskas dishing the ball to Dion who gave it back to the big man for an easy two creating points on the defensive side of the ball. Goris drove to the basket once again, this time cutting across the lane from right to left, elevating for a difficult left-side-of-the-basket layup with his right hand. 

With 4:38 remaining, Framingham brought in a defensive rebound that would eventually see a turnover off their guards knee in the paint that fell right into Nkrumah's hands under the basket, allowing him to throw down with a two-handed jam extending the Lancer lead to 68-50. Shortly after, the starters were called to the bench for substitutions giving those players opportunity at minutes and time. 

Dion led all scorers with 23 points on 5/6 shooting from three-point range while also shooting 8/11 from the field. Rubenskas recorded another double-double, this time scoring 12 points and recording 11 rebounds. Hendrix ended his afternoon with 14 points and five assists, shooting 4/5 from three.

Leading the Rams in scoring was junior guard Kyle Philistin (North Plainfield, NJ) as he scored 14 points with five rebounds and four assists. Teammate sophomore guard Jaden Wilson (Pine Bush, NY) netted nine points on 4/5 shooting from the field.

With the win the Lancers continue their conference winning streak to seventeen straight, improving their record to (11-7, 5-0 MASCAC) while Framingham St. record falls to (5-13, 0-5 MASCAC).

WHAT'S NEXT:

Worcester's next game will be a home matchup on Wednesday, January 24th versus the MCLA Trailblazers (9-8, 3-2 MASCAC) with a scheduled start time of 7:30 PM. This game will be the Lancers "Coaches vs. Cancer" game that is in collaboration with the American Cancer Society where you will see the coaching staff wearing sneakers to raise awareness for cancer research and funding.