Worcester State 85, MCLA 80 2OT
North Adams, MA ---Junior Patrick Hamilton (Templeton, MA) tallied a season-high 27 points with 11 rebounds while classmate Kevin Gena (Lynn, MA) recorded 15 points and 15 boards to help pace the Worcester State to an 85-80 victory, in double overtime, over MCLA this evening in MASCAC action.
With the win the Lancers improve to 10-9 and 4-3 in the conference, where they now stand in fourth place, while the Trailblazers dip to 1-18 and 0-7 in the MASCAC.
The first half was rather uneventful with MCLA keeping pace with
the Lancers who could only muster a seven point lead at one point.
Then the Trailblazers locked the score at 19 only to fall behind at
the half 21-25. MCLA's leading three point shooter, Mike
Perreault (Whitinsville, MA), lead all scoring (9 points)
in the half with three baskets from behind the arch.
The second half the back and forth action continued with the score
evening up at 52 with just under two minutes to play when
Jeff Sprague (North Adams, MA) made the most out
of his two free throws. Mike Meaney (North Adams,
MA), gave the Trailblazers a 54-52 lead only to have Kevin
Gena (Lynn, MA) answer right back with a minute left in
regulation.
Senior Mike Callahan (Carmel, NY) drove the lane
to put MCLA up by two, but again the Lancers answered the call when
Hamilton scored two of his second half ten again tying the game
56-56 and eventually forcing overtime.
The excitement continued during the next five minutes.
Ryan Testagrossa (Athol, MA) dropped a three to
open the first overtime, and Jon Greenberg
(Antwerp, Belgium) converted a layup to keep things tight. Gena was
able to convert in the lane giving the Lancers a 61-58 lead. The
locals kicked in again when Meaney dropped a three and Sprague
added two giving their team a 63-61 lead.
Hamilton locked the game back up at 63 with 2:30 left. Callahan sparked his team with a hoop and a key rebound with ten seconds left. Sprague was immediately fouled and he went to the line with a chance to increase the lead to three. With overtime coming to an end, Brandon Fortes (Pawtucket, RI) released a three point attempt at the buzzer sending the game into its second overtime.
It seemed as if the Trailblazers ran out of steam at the halfway point of the second overtime. Sprague was perfect from the line in both overtimes and Meaney scored four points but it wasn't enough. With a five point lead by the Lancers, MCLA's James Rivers (Dalton, MA)gave the Trailblazers one last spark scoring a three that cut the score to 78-80 in favor of the visitors. After a failed Lancer free throw, Greenberg found Meany who brought the score to 80-81 with 17 seconds left. The Trailblazers were forced to foul sending Fortes to the line twice and shot a perfect 4 for 4 to cinch the win for Worcester.
Hamilton went 11-for-22 from the field while nine of his 11 caroms came off the offensive glass. Forts scored 16 points with four trey's while he also grabbed seven rebounds. Sophomore Dave Douillette (Bridgewater, MA) scored 11 points in 16 minutes of action for the Lancers.
Greenberg paced MCLA with 14 points and a game-best 17 rebounds
while Callahan and Meany scored 15 points apiece. Sprague finished
his evening with 12 points while Perrault scored nine points with
four assists.
The Trailblazers shot a porous 53% (25-for-47) of their free
throws for the game while the Lancers out rebounded MCLA 65-53 in
the contest.
WSC will host Westfield State on Tuesday for their next contest at
8 PM and Becker on Thursday at 7:30.
Portions of Release are Courtesy of MCLA Sports Information