Paxton, MA --- Sophomore Anthony Click (Springfield, MA) led all players with 23 points, adding nine rebounds, four assists, and three steals to help the Anna Maria College men's basketball team overcome a nine-point halftime deficit to defeat Worcester State University by a score of 76-73 at The Fuller Activities Center on New Year's Eve.
Click was instrumental in the victory for the AMCATS (4-6), going 6-for-6 from the field and 6-for-6 from the line during the second half, making a string of key plays down the stretch on both the offensive and defensive end of the floor. Senior guards Junior De La Hoz (Lawrence, MA) and Chris Pinsonault (Marlboro, MA) each tallied 16 and 15 points, respectively.
The Lancers (1-9) were led by senior Dave Douillette (Bridgewater, MA) who collected his second career double-double with a squad-best 19 points and 11 rebounds. Junior Frank Stephenson (Fall River, MA) also finished with 14 points and three steals on the day as sophomore Monte Goodwin (Boston, MA) contributed eight points and five rebounds on 4-of-7 shooting from the floor.
The AMCATS took an early 10-5 lead with Pinsonault's contributing seven quick points.
However, the Lancers kept the game close and after back-to-back baskets from Douillette, Worcester State recaptured the 26-24 edge with 6:30 remaining in the opening half.
Trailing by one with under four minutes on the clock, the Lancers made their move, closing out the period on a 14-4 run, capped by a jumper by Stephenson at the buzzer to go into the locker room holding a 44-35 advantage.
The Lancers shot 50% from the field during the half compared to just 38.7% for the AMCATS, and also held sizeable advantages in second chance points (10-2), points in the paint (26-12), and bench points (13-5).
The AMCATS woke up in the second half exploding with a 12-0 spurt to taking over a lead, 47-44 at the 16:11 mark.
The AMC advantage would swell to as many as seven points, but once again the Lancers battled back, tying the game at 57-57 with nine minutes left in the contest.
A layup by Douillette gave WSU a one-point lead with just over four minutes remaining when AMC's Anthony Click took over. Click contributed on 10 of AMC's final 12 points down the stretch, dishing out three assists, scoring the AMCATS final four points, grabbing two key rebounds and a steal.
Click's jumper from the elbow with 46 seconds on the clock gave AMC a three-point advantage and after the Lancers answered with a basket of their own, Click sank two key free throws to seal the 76-73 win.
The Lancers will return to action on Monday, traveling to face Delaware Valley at 8:00 PM in the Lycoming College Tournament in Williamsport, PA.
The AMCATS will play again on Tuesday versus Fitchburg State on the road at 7:30.
Major Portions of Release Courtesy of Anna Maria Sports Information