FRAMINGHAM, Mass. -- The MCLA men's basketball team has been riding high as it is off to its best conference start since the 2010-11 season.

 

Saturday afternoon, the Trailblazers had to work hard but ultimately earned their eighth straight victory with a hard fought 67-64 win over Framingham State.

 

MCLA now moves to 11-4 overall but, more importantly, stays atop the MASCAC at 4-0. The Rams dip to 1-15 overall and 0-3 in the conference.

 

MCLA led for most of the first half and held a 29-23 edge at the half.  Framingham scored the first seven points out of the locker room to take the lead at 30-29. The teams traded buckets for awhile but eventually the host Rams took the lead at 42-38, their largest of the half with 11:19 remaining.

 

MCLA answered as Taconic grauate Quentin Gittens scored on a drive and Drury alumnus Hayden Bird did the same to tie things up. On their next possession, Quran Davis drilled a triple and MCLA had the lead at 45-42.

 

Once again the Rams battled back and when Trevor Manyak knocked down a triple and Jared Anderson-Gordon converted a pair of FT's, the Rams led 52-49. Bird answered for MCLA with a three ball to tie it. After trading baskets again, Ki-Shawn Monroe gave MCLA the lead for keeps with a pair from the line.

 

Anderson-Gordon would pull the Rams to within one after a layup with one minute remaining at 60-59, but Noah Yearsley's layup provided some breathing room for MCLA. FSU's Tyri Hampton converted with 42 ticks left to pull within one again at 62-61, but Yearsley once again provided the dagger with a three point play that made it 65-61. 

 

Framingham's John Kalton delivered a clutch three with 15 seconds left to pull within a point again, but Yearsley knocked down a pair of FT's and a last second heave from the Rams was off the mark.

 

Yearsley scored MCLA's final seven points and ended with a team best 13 points. Monroe ended with 13 as well but added 8 rebounds and 4 assists. Bird and Gittens came off the bench to score 10.

 

Anderson-Gordon led all scorers with 19 points. Kalton ended with 15.

 

MCLA is off until Wednesday when it challenges Worcester State.

 

Women's Basketball

FRAMINGHAM, Mass. -- Framingham State's Mary Kate O'Day and Emily Velozo scored 21 and 20 points respectively as they handed the visiting MCLA Trailblazers a 78-47 defeat this afternoon in MASCAC action.

 

Framingham (11-5, 3-0) jumped on MCLA right from the start as they opened up a 31-14 lead after one quarter of play. It increased the lead to 47-23 at halftime.  Framingham drilled eight 3-pointers in the opening half of play.

 

MCLA (2-12, 0-4) never threatened in the second half as the Rams cruised home.

 

O'Day was 7-10 from the floor which included a 5-6 showing from beyond the arc. She completed the double double with 11 rebounds and added two assists and 2 steals.

 

Mount Everett grauate Gwendolyn Carpenter had two points, two assists and two steals in 10 minutes off the bench for the Rams.

 

MCLA was paced by Erika Ryan's team best nine-point effort. Maddie Teta added eight while Shannon Carney netted 7. MCLA shot just 29% from the floor.

 

The Trailblazers are off until Wednesday when they head to Worcester State.