Clark Edges Worcester State 77-74 at Lancers' Midnight Madness® Home Opener

WORCESTER, Mass. – The Worcester State University men's basketball team dropped a heartbreaker to the Clark University Cougars Tuesday (Nov. 15) morning at the Lancers' home opening Midnight Madness® game as Clark's Luca McCormick (Bradenton, Fla.) scored a game-winning three-pointer with two seconds remaining on the clock.

Clark's McCormick led the team with 24 points, going 8-for-14 from the field. The Cougars' John Pisacreta (Andover, Mass.) scored 17 points and registered a game-high five assists in the match. Clarks' Lamar Berk (Saint Augustine, Fla.) and David Mercier (Milford, Mass.) scored double digits as they had 11 and 12 points, respectively.

The Lancers' Corey Gatta (Sturbridge, Mass.) led the team with 17 points, while Marquez McKreith-Collins (Springfield, Mass.) rolled in with 16 points. Also scoring in double digits was Jamal Mustapha (Worcester, Mass.) who tallied seven points in each half to total 14. Mustapha also led the Lancers on the boards with seven (one offensive).

Worcester State struggled in the first half, as four of Clark's players put up double digits and the team registered a 57.6 field goal percentage and a 53.8 3-point field goal percentage.

"We played tentative in first half and Clark did the complete opposite," commented head coach David Lindberg. "They were making great plays in the first half and we just didn't respond."

The Cougars took the first lead of the game on a long-range shot from McCormick. Worcester State's Gatta tied the game up at 5-5 just minutes later on a shot beyond the arc. The two battled back-and-forth as the half saw one other tie seven minutes into the half at 12-12. The Cougars slowly extended their lead throughout the remainder of the half, and gained a hefty 52-36 lead going into the intermission.

Worcester State came out the locker room looking for a comeback as Gatta and Mustapha instantly put up four points for the Lancer to close the Cougars lead to 12. Starting with 15:30 remaining on the clock, the Lancers made a feisty comeback as they went on a 17-4 run with shots from Mustapha, McKreith-Collins, Shaun McCarthy (Oxford, Mass.), Ryan DiBernardo (Springfield, Mass.) and Jeremy Bacon (Milford, Mass.).

"The second half was more aggressive, and we played our style of basketball," said Lindberg.

Following a three-pointer with eight minutes on the clock from McKreith-Collins, the Lancers were only down by two (61-59). After back-and-forth play, the Lancers gained their first lead of the game on a pair of free throws from McCarthy and then a layup from Mustapha.

The lead fell back in the Cougars hands before Worcester's Mustapha made an and-one to tie the score at 74-74 with 13 seconds outstanding in the game. It was then that Clark took control and McCormick made a 3-pointer, just leaving the Lancers with a harsh two seconds to attempt their last shot of the night.

Overall, the Lancers registered an 85.7 free throw percentage, going 18-for-21 from the stripe. The Cougars outshot the Lancers by only one percent in field goal percentage (42.6%-43.8%).

Next up, the Lancers travel to Virginia to take part in the Roanoke Tournament this upcoming weekend. The Cougars travel to Roger Williams this weekend for the Courtyard by Marriott tournament in Bristol, R.I.

Charter TV3 YouTube Clips:

WNT Worcester State Midnight Madness® Event

WNT Sports - November 14th, 2016

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