Men's Basketball Drops 96-84 Decision to Western Connecticut

DANBURY, Conn. - The Worcester State University fell to 2-2 on the season with a 96-84 loss to Western Connecticut State University in non-conference action at the Colonial Classic Friday night at Feldman Arena.

Junior Tracy Cleckley, Jr. (Rosedale, N.Y.) scored a team-high 22 points and three other Western Connecticut State University players scored in double figures to lead the Colonials to the victory.

Joining Cleckley, Jr. in double digits is Aaron Samuel (Stratford, Conn.) with 13 points and Eli Rodriguez (Bristol, Conn.) and Geary McLeod (New London, Conn.) with 11 and 10 points respectively for the hosts.

Rashard Rodriguez (Trumbull, Conn.) pulled down a team-high seven rebounds in the victory.

The Lancers were led by junior guard Tyler Dion (Barre, Mass.) who scored a game-high 23 points. Frantz Francois (Boston, Mass.) added 14 points while Will Watkins, Jr. (Southbridge, Mass.) and Cal Howes (Maynard, Mass.) each netted 13 points.  Eddie Hassell (Milton, Mass.) came off the bench to score 10 points. Francois lead all players with 10 rebounds.

WestConn, now 2-1, led from the tip and built a 24-point advantage, 57-33, after Cleckley, Jr. buried a three-pointer from the top of the arc as the horn sounded for intermission.

The Colonials' lead grew to 26 points, 59-33, in the opening seconds of the second half when Ronald Jefferson (Brooklyn, N.Y.) hit a short jumper in the lane.

Worcester State chipped away at its deficit and pulled within nine points, 90-81, following a jumper by Hassell with 1:25 left in the game.

WestConn would score six of the game's next eight points down the stretch.

The Colonials will play Albertus Magnus College in Saturday's championship game at 4 p.m. The consolation game between Worcester State and the Polar Bears is set to tip off at 2 p.m.

#LancerNation

Release courtesy of Western Connecticut State University Sports Information.