NORTH ADAMS, Mass. - Adam Conquest knocked down the game winning jumper with nine seconds left to lift the MCLA Trailblazers past the visiting Salem State Vikings 56-55 in a hard fought MASCAC game on Thursday evening.

 

After the 13th tie of the night at 54 apiece following SSU's Hamed Akanni's bucket with 1:29 left to play, MCLA (6-12, 3-3) was whistled for an offensive foul. On Salem's possession, it had two good looks to score but eventually drew a foul sending Akanni to the line with 31 ticks left.  The senior made the first before missing the second setting up MCLA's final possession, trailing 55-54.

 

After a Trailblazer timeout, guard Ruben DelRosario drove from the left side across the paint where he found a wide open Conquest in the corner. The junior touched all the iron, but it dropped with 9 seconds left giving MCLA the lead. 

 

After another timeout, the Vikings (10-9, 2-4) had one last chance. Guard Bryan Ortiz drove the lane and fired a pass into the deep left corner to Anthony Hodges. His 3-pointer at the buzzer just rimmed out preserving the win for the Trailblazers.

 

No Trailblazer ended in double figures as Conquest and Khalil Paul each ended with eight points.  Dakari Hannah-Wornum had a solid night off the bench collecting eight rebounds and blocking five shots.

 

The Trailblazers will look to avenge an earlier loss to Bridgewater State when they battle the Bears on Saturday at 3 p.m.

 

WOMEN'S BASKETBALL

NORTH ADAMS, Mass. -- The MCLA women's basketball team  received 22 points from Courtney McLaughlin, and they used solid free throw shooting down the stretch to hold off visiting Salem State, 64-61, on Thursday evening.

 

McLaughlin did most of her damage in the opening half and ended 7-12 from the field for her 22 points. Kayla Hotaling also had a big night collecting a double double of 18 points and 12 rebounds. The win snapped a six game slide for MCLA (7-11, 1-5 MASCAC)

 

Rachael Carter led all scorers with 25 points for the Vikings (2-15, 0-6).

 

MCLA will continue MASCAC play on Saturday when it travels to Bridgewater State.