WORCESTER, Mass. – The Worcester State University men's basketball team won their first game of the season early Thursday morning against the Clark University Cougars at Midnight Madness by a score of 87-81.
With the win, Worcester State starts the season at 1-0. Head Coach Tyler Hundley comes away with the first win of his Lancer career. The Cougars will begin the year at 0-1 after the loss.
The Lancers controlled the game for much of the first half, scoring from inside the paint and from beyond the arc. After the first 20 minutes, Worcester State led 39-30.
Tyler Dion (Barre, Mass.) hit two threes in the first half, including one from several feet behind the line. Will Watkins Jr. (Southbridge, Mass.) also pitched in two threes during the half. On the inside, Shaun McCarthy (Oxford, Mass.) and Emeka Egwuatu (Worcester, Mass.) combined for 14 points, with most of it coming at the rim.
The Lancers stout defense helped keep their lead throughout the half, as they forced 8 turnovers and held Clark to 40% shooting.
Biko Gayman (Fort Pierce, Fla.) led the way for the Cougars in the first half, scoring 10 points on 4-7 shooting. Antonio Lapeyrolerie (Plano, Texas) shot 2-4 from three to chip in six points for Clark.
The Cougars opened the second half on an 11-2 run to tie the game at 41. Tyler Davern (Webster, Mass.) scored seven of those, including an and one that tied the score.
The Lancers regained the lead by going on a series of small runs. Once leading, the Lancers would not give it up for the rest of the game. A clutch three from Watkins would put the Lancers up eight with only two minutes to play, effectively sealing it for the Lancers.
Dion led the way for the Lancers with 21 points and four assists while shooting 7-15 from the floor and 3-6 from three. McCarthy chipped in 16 points and four rebounds and Chris Cardoso (Jamaica Plain, Mass.) finished with a double-double with 12 points and 11 rebounds.
Gayman paced the Cougars on offense with 23 points and adding in five assists. Brendan Kittredge (Clinton, Mass.) had a double-double for Clark consisting of 17 points and 10 rebounds.
Up next for the Lancers is a road game on Sunday, November 11 as they head to Roger Williams for a 2 p.m. tip-off. Clark will be on the road as well for their next game against Newbury College on Tuesday, November 13 at 7 p.m.
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