ALBANY, N.Y.  – Worcester State University's Shaun McCarthy (Oxford, Mass.) made 14 field goals and went a perfect 4-for-4 from the free throw line to score a career-high 32 points with 12 rebounds in the Lancers' 87-74 setback to Sage Monday evening.

THE BASICS

January 8, 2018

Lancer Gymnasium

Score: Sage 87, Worcester State 74

Records: Sage (6-5) | Worcester State (1-13)

1^ST HALF

Worcester State took the first lead of the game on a layup from McCarthy. However, Sage took the lead back 39 seconds later when Isaiah Scurry (Albany, N.Y.) sank a triple. The teams traded points next, but Sage took a 6-point lead succeeding a Kevin Lenehan (Delanson, N.Y.) layup with 14:38 on the clock.  After another Scurry 3-pointer to put the Gators ahead by eight, Worcester State's Jason Truax (Northborough, Mass.) came back with two back-to-back jumpers and Manny Green (Boston, Mass.) made a layup to clip Sage's lead to just two (15-13). With just under 12 minutes to go in the half, Wayne Weir (Bronx, N.Y.) put up five points on a layup and a long ball, while Kostas Avgoullas (Astoria, N.Y.) converted an and-one to take an 11-point lead. The teams once again kept the gap at 11, but Sage extended its lead with a 12-0 run to pull ahead by 23 with 2:29 remaining in the frame. Worcester State's McCarthy scored two baskets with under a two minutes to go, but Sage kept packing on points as well, leading to a 50-31 score at the half.

2^ND HALF

McCarthy came out of the half with two layups and then teammate Bryson Gulley (Mattapan, Mass.) saw five points on a pair of freebies and a triple with 17 minutes on the clock to bring the Lancers within 14. Sage added back the points on a triple from Scurry and an and-one from Anthony Mitchell (Bronx, N.Y.). McCarthy and Gulley were scoring for the Lancers, but Sage was not stopped. The Lancers were able to get within 10 with 5:47 to go in the game succeeding a Gulley 3-pointer, and trail by less than 10 with 1:17 to go, but they were not able entice a comeback, resulting in an 87-74 final score.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

• McCarthy posted a career-high 32 points with 12 board to mark his third double-double of the season. He also dished out two assists in the setback.
• Worcester State saw double-digit scoring from Gulley who had 16 points, including four treys.
• Cal Howes (Maynard, Mass.), Truax, and  Emmanuel Bangandozou (Worcester, Mass.) each chipped in six points.
• Joe Desormier (Granby, Mass.) led the Lancers in the assists category with five.
• Sage was led by Scurry who had 21 points, going 5-for-9 from long range and 8-for-16 from the field.
• Lenehan was one rebound shy of a double-double with 17 points and nine rebounds. Weir put up 11 points and a game-high four steals.
• Jordan Devaughn (Jacksonville, Fla.) guided the Gator offense with a team-high four assists.
• Despite the loss, Worcester State held a higher field goal percentage than Sage at 49.2% (29-59).
• Sage marked a 37.5% 3-point field goal percentage, while Worcester State stood at 26.3%.
• Sage forced 22 Lancer turnovers which turned into 23 points for the Gators.

UP NEXT

Worcester State heads to Framingham on Wednesday (Jan. 10) to matchup against MASCAC opponent, Framingham State.

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