NORTH ADAMS, Mass. - MCLA's Mike Demartinis scored 27 points to lift the Trailblazers over Worcester State University 80-72 in Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference men's basketball action Saturday afternoon at the Ambler Campus Center Gym. The Trailblazers improve to 6-15 on the season and are now 2-7 in the conference. The Lancers drop to 11-11 overall and sit at 4-5 in league play.
The Lancers led 37-34 at halftime but MCLA never went away as the game featured 13 lead changes and 10 ties. With the score at 67-66 in favor of Worcester State with just three minutes remaining, MCLA came back once again. Demartinis started the late game run with a drive to the hoop to give MCLA the lead. Following a stop, Ki-Shawn Monroe would hit a pull up jumper to make it 70-67 in favor of the hosts.
After Worcester State's Shaun McCarthy (Oxford, Mass.) made a layup on the other end, Quran Davis drilled the biggest shot of the afternoon as his three put MCLA up 73-69 with just 1:58 left. Worcester's Chris Cardoso (Jamaica Plain, Mass.), who also had a game best 27-point night, converted a deep three to pull the Lancers within one at 73-72 with a minute left, but Demartinis was fouled and calmly sank both free throws to extend the lead. Following a turnover and forced to foul, the Trailblazers' Davis made one of two and the Lancers never scored again. MCLA would score the final seven points to preserve the victory.
Demartinis shot 9-for-22 from the floor and a perfect 8-for-8 from the line for his 27 point night. Davis ended with 12 points on 4-10 shooting. Monroe scored only eight points, but added 10 rebounds, seven assists, and three steals for the Trailblazers. Hayden Bird chipped in with 10 points.
MCLA shot 41% from the field in the win and overcame 15 turnovers.
For the Lancers, Cardoso was outstanding. He went 10-17 from the floor and added 6 rebounds. Tyler Dion (Barre, Mass.) added 16 points for Worcester State, while Cal Howes (Maynard, Mass.) added 11 points in defeat.
Next up for the Lancers, they will play Fitchburg State at home next Saturday, with tip-off set for 1 p.m. from John P. Brissette Court.
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Release courtesy of MCLA Sports Information.