WORCESTER, Mass. -- The Worcester State University men's basketball team is off to the Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference Championship game after defeating MCLA, 96-72, Thursday night in the conference semifinals at John P. Brissette Court.

 

With the win, Worcester State moves to 15-11 overall on the season, and will face Westfield State in the MASCAC Championship on Saturday afternoon.

 

Worcester State jumped out to a quick start in the first half and never looked back. The Lancers hit three-pointers on each of its first three possessions of the contest to take a 9-0 lead just 1:28 in. Sophomore Corey Olivier hit the first two, followed by the first of five triples of the evening by freshman Sam Dion.

 

The Lancers never looked back in the opening half, leading by as many as 24 points before the break after a Tyler Dion 3-pointer put Worcester State up 51-27 with 5:02 to play. MCLA closed the first half on a 10-2 run, but the Lancers still held a 53-37 edge headed to the locker room.

 

The hosts made a remarkable 10 three-pointers before the half, shooting 62.5 percent from distance. Worcester shot 20-for-38 (52.6 percent) from the floor in the half.

 

Taconic grad Quentin Gittens was MCLA's leading scorer with 17 points, while Antoine Montgomery dropped 13.

 

The Trailblazers end the season at 15-11.