WPI Downs Worcester State in Worcester County Classic Opener

WPI 78, Worcester State 57

Box Score

Worcester, MA --- Jerome Kirkland (Boston, MA) equaled his career-high with 25 points and fellow guard Adam Lirette (Dover, NH) notched his first career double-double to help propel visiting WPI to a 78-57 victory over Worcester State in the opening game of the sixth annual Worcester County Classic.

The Engineers will face the winner of Saturday’s second contest between Becker and Nichols in the championship game on Sunday at 4pm. Worcester State will take on the loser in the consolation game at 2pm.

WPI jumped out of the gates quickly, scoring the first 10 points of the contest. Worcester State battled back and got within one point on three different occasions but were able to tie or take the lead, as the Engineers took a 39-37 advantage into the locker room at the break. The Crimson and Gray turned on the defense in the second half, limiting the Lancers to 6-for-31 (19.4%) shooting from the floor and 0-8 from three-point land.

Kirkland connected on 10-of-17 shots en route to equaling a career-best set last February in a win at Clark. Lirette added 15 points, to go along with a career-high 10 rebounds, five assists and four steals. Ben Etten (Hollis, NH) and Fernando Perez (Lowell, MA) each chipped in with eight points, while Will Lyons (Wilbraham, MA) and Jeffery Robinson (Granby, CT) both tossed in seven.

Junior Maurice Horton (Detroit, MI) led the Lancers with 19 points and nine rebounds. Patrick Hamilton (Templeton, MA) registered 12 points despite being saddled with foul trouble throughout the contest. Kevin Gena (Lynn, MA) and Raheem Lewis (Whitinsville, MA) both tallied eight points off the bench for Worcester State, who out rebounded the Engineers 47-44.

The game was hard-played throughout in front of a capacity crowd at Lancer Gymnasium, and featured a combined 48 fouls and 48 free-throw attempts.