Telegram & Gazette Recap: "Brendan Rios Heats Up, Sparks Lancers Past Falcons"

Worcester, MA --- Senior Brendan Rios (Easthampton, MA) poured in a game-best 19 points to go with four boards and a trio of three-pointers to help pace Worcester State to a 79-72 triumph over Fitchburg State in men's MASCAC basketball action this evening at the Laska Gymnasium.

The Lancers with the victory ended a six-game losing streak to improve to 4-14 (1-4 MASCAC) while the Falcons fall to 11-6 (3-2 MASCAC) in the setback. Head coach Dave Lindberg also earned his 250th career victory in the triumph.

Sophomore Paul Brooks (Arlington, MA) also underscored the hosts with 11 points, 14 rebounds and he tied a school-record with eight blocks. Sophomore Ryan DiBernardo (Springfield, MA/Cathedral) registered 18 points and four assists as classmate Marquez McKreith-Collins (Springfield, MA/Cathedral) tallied 12 points with three swipes.  

Senior Charles Gunter (Boston, MA/New Mission) did a little bit of everything with 10 points, five assists, four boards and a duo of steals for the Blue and Gold.

Junior Anthony Muccioli (Nashua, NH/South) highlighted five in double-figure scoring for Fitchburg State with 16 points while sophomore Jalen Williams (Meriden, CT) produced 15 points and nine caroms off the bench.

Classmate Kwame Lee (Brockton, MA) added 14 points and nine rebounds as junior Givaughn Jones (Dorchester, MA) corralled 10 rebounds with eight points, three helpers and a pair of blocks.

Worcester State started off the contest with the early 12-2 advantage and led 25-14 with 7:29 remaining in the opening half.

The visitors ramped up their defense and responded with a 15-5 surge to trail by one basket 3 ½ minutes later on the back of a Jones triple (30-29). Williams and Muccioli tag teamed for 10 points in the run for the Falcons.

With a traditional three-point play, a lay-up and two more points at the charity stripe, DiBernardo helped the Lancers answer the call in a 9-0 spurt to take over the 38-29 advantage just after the two-minute mark. 

Fitchburg State though chipped away at the deficit and made it a 42-38 score at the intermission on a Williams bucket in the paint and a trey by junior Juan Lopez (Holyoke, MA).

After Lee and Jones sank field goals to tie up the score at 42-42 early on in the second period, the crowd was treated to a back-and-forth affair which saw numerous ties and four lead changes over a span of 13 minutes. The Falcons held the largest margin during the stretch at three points on four occasions.

Despite playing with four fouls on the ledger, Rios helped lead a late charge by knotting up the score and he gave WSU the 61-60 advantage for good with 5:52 remaining in regulation.

Overall, Rios contributed 11 points to help Worcester State outscore Fitchburg State 12-6, which enabled the hosts to take over a 73-66 bulge as 1:31 remained on the clock.

With under 40 seconds remaining, the Falcons came back and threatened following a basket by sophomore Leonny Burgos (Lawrence, MA) to help the visitors trail 75-72.

But Gunter hit three of his four tries from the charity stripe in a six second span to put the Lancers up by two possessions (77-72).

Fitchburg State had their chances to try to get back into the game, but three point attempts by sophomore Christian Dunston (Salem, MA) and Muccioli were off the mark in the waning moments.

Worcester State hit 39 percent of their shots for the contest (20-for-51) and nearly sank half of their attempts from downtown (6-for-13 – 46 percent). 41 percent of WSU's offense came at the charity stripe as the Lancers hit 70 percent from the line (33-for-47) as a result of 35 FSU fouls.

The Lancers also led in rebounds (41-40), offensive boards (15-14) and baskets off of turnovers (18-17).

The Falcons were 42 percent overall (28-for-66), but only connected on four of their 14 tries from downtown. The visitors also dominated the paint (42-26) and transition points (18-14) while both squads were even in second chance baskets (20-20).

Brooks equaled the single-game mark for blocks held by Dave Whalen against Bridgewater State (1985-86) and Mark Retallic versus MCLA during the 2002-03 campaign.

Both teams will play again on the road this Tuesday as they wrap-up the first half of their MASCAC round-robin slate. Worcester State heads to Framingham State for a 8 PM affair and Fitchburg State travels to Westfield State in a 7:30 meeting.