Worcester, MA --- The fifth seeded Worcester State College Men's Basketball team looks to defeat #4 Framingham State on Tuesday evening at 7 PM on the road in the first round of the MASCAC Quarterfinals. The winner moves on to take-on top-seeded Salem State on Thursday at Salem.
"It's going to be a real hard-fought game," said head coach Dave Lindberg. "Both teams are very evenly matched and have come down to the last possession. It's going to be an exciting game."
The two teams split their season series with the Lancers taking a 72-69 home victory in their first matchup while the Rams earned the 78-74 triumph at Framingham in their last contest. The matches were not easy victories as each team had to hold off late comebacks to secure the wins. Since the two teams started playing in the 1970-71 season, WSC holds a 47-32 advantage all-time.
The Lancers are paced by junior forward Maurice Horton, who leads MASCAC in points (23.2) while he is also second in the conference with 10.1 rebounds. Horton has also connected for .496 percent of his field goals (eighth in MASCAC) and he is fifth in the league free-throw shooting (.775). Junior forward Patrick Hamilton averages double-figures with 10.4 points while third-year point guard Elijah Sims has chipped in with a modest 2.56 assists per contest and 2.01 steals.
Junior forward Josue Almodovar has led the charge for the Rams after he finished the regular season second in the conference in points (20.5) while he was also third in boards (9.9). Almodovar has also shot a nifty .536 percent from the field (third MASCAC). Third-year point guard Darius Yarrell leads the MASCAC in assists with 122 and 4.88 per game while he is also tenth in steals (1.72).
Junior forward Roderick Jackson is a threat in the post averaging 10.7 points per game with 5.8 caroms while he's second in the league in blocked shots (1.32). Junior guard Bill Carey rounds out FSC with a conference-best 64 baskets made from beyond the arc while he shoots .398 percent from downtown.
Controlling Framingham's States fast-paced, up tempo style of play will be key if the Lancers want to advance to the next round. The Rams are currently third in the MASCAC in points per game with 75.9.
"We want to try to make them turn the ball over, control the backboards and limit their fast break opportunities," said Lindberg. "We want to keep Jackson off the glass, keep Yarrell in front of us and hold Albodovar to his average; we don't want him to have a super game."
Worcester State ended the regular season with a 12-13 record overall while they finished 5-7 in the MASCAC. Framingham State wrapped up their 2009 campaign at 14-11 while they were an even 6-6 in the conference.
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