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MCLA Falls in Double Overtime 85-80MCLA Sports Info
11:24AM / Monday, February 02, 2009
NORTH ADAMS, Mass. - After double-overtime and a tight game throughout, MCLA dropped a heartbreaker 80-85 to Worcester State. MCLA's eventual downfall was poor free throw shooting on the night. Shooting just 57% from the line in the second half, the Trailblazers let their lead slip and were forced into overtime not once but twice.
The first half was rather uneventful with MCLA keeping pace with the Lancers who could only muster a seven point lead at one point. Then the Trailblazers locked the score at 19 only to fall behind at the half 21-25. MCLA's leading three point shooter, Mike Perreault (Whitinsville, MA), lead all scoring (9 points) in the half with three baskets from behind the arch.
The second half the back and forth action continued with the score evening up at 52 with just under two minutes to play when Jeff Sprague (North Adams, MA) made the most out of his two free throws. Another North Adams product, Mike Meaney, gave the Trailblazers a 54-52 lead only to have Kevin Gena (Lynn, MA) answer right back with a minute left in regulation. Senior captain, Mike Callahan (Carmel, NY) drove the lane to put MCLA up by two, but again the Lancers answered the call when Patrick Hamilton (Templeton, MA) scored two of his second half ten again tieing the game 56-56 and eventually forcing overtime.
The excitement continued during the next five minutes. Ryan Testagrossa (Athol, MA) dropped a three to open the first overtime, and Jon Greenberg (Antwerp, Belgium) converted a layup to keep things tight. Gena was able to convert in the lane giving the Lancers a 61-58 lead. The locals kicked in again when Meaney dropped a three and Sprague added two giving their team a 63-61 lead. The games high scorer, Hamilton locked the game back up at 63 with 2:30 left. Callahan sparked his team with a hoop and a key rebound with ten seconds left. Sprague was immediately fouled and he went to the line with a chance to increase the lead to three. Doing just that it looked as if the Trailblazers would pull off their first conference win of the season. With overtime coming to an end, Brandon Fortes (Pawtucket, RI) released a three point attempt at the buzzer sending the game into its second overtime.
It seemed as if the Trailblazers ran out of steam at the halfway point of the second overtime. Sprague was perfect from the line in both overtimes and Meaney scored four points but it wasn't enough. With a five point lead by the Lancers, MCLA's James Rivers (Dalton, MA), who played just two minutes of the game, gave the Trailblazers one last spark scoring a three that cut the score to 78-80 in favor of the visitors. After a failed Lancer free throw, Greenberg grabbed one of his game high 17 rebounds and found Meany who brought the score to 80-81 with 17 seconds left. The Trailblazers were forced to foul sending Fortes to the line twice and shot a perfect 4 for 4 to cinch the win for Worcester. MCLA's demise (53% from the line) was the very thing Worcester (74% from the line) took advantage of down the stretch.
UP NEXT:
MCLA (1-18, 0-7) will travel to Salem State on Tuesday Worcester (10-9, 4-3) will host Westfield in a battle of the 3-4 spot in the MASCAC. |
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