Annan Provides Spark From Bench In Lancers First Conference Win

Worcester, MA- The Worcester State Lancers (6-6, 0-0 MASCAC) tipped off against the Fitchburg State Falcons (2-11, 0-1 MASCAC) in the team's first conference matchup of the season. 

FINAL: LANCERS 75 | FSU 53

PREGAME NOTES:

• These two teams last met in the MASCAC Semifinals where the Lancers claimed victory 74-56 to advance to the championship game. 

• Last weekend the team traveled to Salem, VA, and played in the Cregger Invitational hosted by Roanoke College.

• This is the first game played in Massachusetts since Dec. 9, before classes were let out for winter break.

• Worcester dominated conference play last season going a perfect 12-0 and look to continue that streak. 

• Junior forward Aaron Nkrumah (Worcester, MA) has averaged a conference-best 21.3 points per game.

• Senior Ryan Rubenskas (Bridgewater, MA) is currently third in rebounds per game, averaging 9.8 boards per contest.

RECAP:

END FIRST HALF: LANCERS 28 | FSU 26

It was a slow start for the Lancers in their first conference matchup of the season. The team found themselves down 13-6 halfway through the first, shooting just 2/13 from the field with six turnovers. Junior Ryan Rubenskas picked up two quick fouls in the first four minutes of the game and found himself on the bench early with foul trouble.

Juniors Nate Bangandozou (Worcester, MA) and forward Johnny Annan (Worcester, MA), as well as first-year forward Jaylen Kirkland (Gardner, MA)  each provided sparks to chip away at the lead. Bangandozou stripped the ball out of the opponent's hand at the top of the circle causing a fast break leading to a Nkrumah score. He would also hit a three to cut the lead to two early in the half.  Annan got the bench out of their seats when he threw down with a defender in his space giving life to the team. Annan had the bench rocking again shortly after, this time elevating and slamming down a two-handed dunk with emphasis while being fouled for an and-one opportunity. The next offensive possession, the balling finding a streaking  Annan again, threw up a tough layup in traffic. The Lancers down by two at this point had possession as Kirkland waited for the ball in his comfortable corner three spot, draining a three putting the Lancers up 19-18 with 5:30 remaining in the first. 

Junior guard Brandon Goris (Bronx, NY) provided a defensive spark from the bench. A driving Fitchburg player went up for a layup where he was met by Goris who blocked the ball and clamped it for a jump ball. Goris cleanly blocked another layup shortly after to maintain the Lancer lead. 

Graduate student guard Sam Davies (Worcester, MA) joined the three-point party, firing from downtown to put the score at 28-24. 

END SECOND HALF / FINAL: LANCERS 75 | FSU 53

The start of this half was a very different story for the Lancers. The team started out on a 12-2 offensive run, Kirkland splashing a three for the first points of the scoring burst. Nkrumah made major contributions to the run with senior point guard Sam Dion (Barre, MA) finding the preseason All-American cutting to the basket for an easy two. Nkrumah on the next possession hit a three. The big man Rubesnaks took his turn adding to the lead off a rebound and tough putback. Nkrumah, averaging 2.8 steals per game, had a takeaway leading to an and-one score. Nkrumah stole the ball again shortly after the ball, picking it off on a swing pass with no one near him to stop the throw down.

Kirkland stamped another three to put the Lancers up 46-28 with 16:15 left. Graduate student Zion Hendrix (Charlotte, NC) facilitated a shifty behind-the-back pass to Rubenskas for an easy layup, extending the Lancer lead, the score 51-40 halfway through the second half.

Annan, back in the game and riding high from his first-half success, made an impact in the midpoint of the second-half Lancer domination as he scored two buckets along with two blocks in a short amount of time.

WHAT'S NEXT:

With the win, the Lancers improved their record to (7-6, 1-0 MASCAC) with the Falcons dropping to (2-12, 0-2 MASCAC). The team's next game will be a conference championship rematch against the Westfield State Owls (10-4, 1-0 MASCAC) on Wednesday, January 10th with a scheduled start time of 2 PM.