Worcester, MA- The Worcester State Lancers (13-9, 7-2 MASCAC) tipped off against the Salem State Vikings (11-10, 4-5 MASCAC) in the team's second-to-last home game of the regular season.
Today marked the team's "Pink Out" game. Worcester State University, the Worcester State Athletics Department, and the Rosen Cancer Awareness Fund have teamed up in a continued bid to raise awareness for cancer detection and research. The Rosen Cancer Awareness Fund, created by alumni couple Gregg Rosen '86 and Pam Rosen '87, provides robust programming that supports peer-to-peer education regarding early cancer detection.
FINAL: LANCERS 103 | SALEM ST. 99 OT
HOW IT HAPPENED:
Senior Ryan Rubenskas (Bridgewater, MA) opened the scoring for Worcester, the big man going under the basket with a reverse layup. Junior forward Aaron Nkrumah (Worcester, MA) hit a three-point shot on the next possession to capture a one-point lead early in the first half. The three kept coming, this time graduate student guard Zion Hendrix (Charlotte, NC) draining one from a distance at the top of the key. Nkrumah continuing his hot start threw down for a basket and a foul.
Nearly seven minutes remained when sophomore guard Brandon Goris (Bronx, NY) drove the left side of the lane, freeing up a trailing Rubenskas and finding him for a two-handed jam, regaining a one-point lead, 28-27.
Hendrix with the ball dished a pass to Rubenskas who used his athleticism and strength to drive and body a Viking defender, growing the lead to 37-32 with roughly three minutes remaining. Salem St. headed into the locker room with a 39-37 lead. Rubenskas led Lancer scores with 12 points, adding four rebounds. Nkrumah scored eight points with four rebounds and three assists. Vikings LJ Hicks and Liam Byrne each had double-digit points, Hicks with 12 and Byrne with 13 to go with his seven rebounds and two assists.
Senior guard Sam Dion (Barre, MA) drained a left-corner three-pointer to bring the Lancers within one at the start of the second half, Hendrix on the assist. Salem sailed themselves to a mini-run, answering everything the Lancers had and then some to bring their lead to six, 48-42. Hendrix netted a three to bring the game to a three-point deficit with 17 minutes remaining.
With the ball in Goris's hands, the speedster zoomed down the lane's left side, spinning in a hard layup. The next offensive possession, Goris shot from a three-pointer, making it to bring Worcester within three, 57-54 at the 14-minute mark. Goris on a heat check forced his way into the paint, elevating and drawing a call to make both free throws.
Each team taking turns scoring, the game continued to hover within five points for much of the first 10 minutes of the half. Nkrumah drained three threes in a row to tie the game and take the lead 77-74, scoring nine points within thirty seconds swinging momentum towards the Lancers. Salem St. matched with a three of their own to tie the game.
Nkrumah feeling it from downtown swished a three-pointer to bring the Lancers within one, 82-81, all made possible by junior Johnny Annan (Worcester, MA) and junior Suubi Nkugwa (Chelmsford, MA) forcing the the offensive rebound to keep the possession alive. Nkrumah on a heat check dribbled down the right side of the lane, bodying a Viking and elevating for a good midrange bringing Worcester within one, 84-83.
Heartbreakingly, the Lancers had a crucial backcourt turnover the Vikings took advantage of to score, giving Salem St. an 87-85 lead. Salem fouled Nkrumah on the floor putting the Lancers in the bonus, where Nkrumah only hit one of free throws. Rubenskas was fouled again with 1.6 seconds and a chance to tie the game, he made his first and buried his second to tie the game in clutch time and send it to overtime.
The start of overtime saw Dion drive down the right side of the lane, hucking a layup as he was fouled being sent to the line for two, making one to give his team the lead. Nkrumah banged a midrange jumper with 3:30 remaining furthering the lead to 91-89. Nkrumah then poked a ball free for a fast-break two-handed dunk, the score 93-89. Salem St. came back to tie the game at 93-93, Rubesnaks being fouled where he hit one to make the score 94-93. Nkrumah scored a turnaround bucket for two, the Lancers now up 96-93. Salem made a free throw to make it 96-95. Nkrumah showing off his dribbling skills put a Viking in a blender for an easy layup as he was fouled, completing the and-one, giving Worcester a 99-95 advantage. Salem scored to make it 99-97. That proved to be enough for Worcester, winning a gritty battle to improve their conference record.
Nkrumah scored a career-high 41 points with seven rebounds, four assists, one steal, and one block. Salem's Jaden Castillo scored 36 points on the night.
UPDATED RECORDS:
With the win, the Lancers improved to (14-9, 8-2 MASCAC) as Salem St. dropped to (11-11, 4-6 MASCAC).
WHAT'S NEXT:
The Lancers will host their senior day Wednesday, February 14th with a scheduled start time of 7:30 PM.