Lancers Advance to MASCAC Championship in Intense Battle with Rams

Worcester, MA- After a tight one point victory over Bridgewater State on Wednesday night, the #4 seeded Framingham State (15-11, 7-7) sealed their trip to the #2 seeded Worcester State Lancers (13-12, 11-3) for a MASCAC Semifinal meeting. Worcester State claimed the bye into the meeting, getting a game rest as the two teams aimed to advance to the MASCAC Championship.

Final

Framingham State: 62

Worcester State: 71

How it Happened:

It was an intense first half of action as junior Ethan Daleba (Dorchester, MA) would open the scoring seconds into the game off a long range jumper. The Rams junior Joshua Saint Jean (Lynn, MA) would answer right back with a layup of his own to begin the roller coaster action of the first. The Lancers would look to pull away early but the Rams refused to provide them the distance on the leash and continually brought the game back to square, allowing small leads, but never conceding control. Halfway through the first quarter would see the largest lead for Worcester sophomore Joe Okla (Worcester, MA) and senior Ayme Daguilh (West Boylston, MA) would push the lead out to 11. Saint Jean would find the offensive rhythm late, and partnered with the high pressure Rams defense that forced 13 turnovers on Worcester, would kick into high gear late. Graduate student AJ Thompson (Mebane, NC) would change the pace hitting a three and grabbing a crucial steal that would lead to junior Dyree Rogers (New City, NY) collecting five quick points and force a single digit of difference at the half. While Worcester held the 50% field goal shooting, the nine steals of the Rams defense found a tight game at the close of the opening 20 minutes.

Both teams came into the second with full steam as the game pot began to boil. Saint Jean would claim the lead for the Rams early and begin a back-and-forth passionate battle on the court. After the initial score to start the second it would take nearly three minutes of battling tight pressure before Daleba would set the pace of the half with a driving dunk. Framingham would answer back and push their lead to three off the quick return of senior Vondre Chase (Watertown, MA), but Daleba was the presence of the second half, hitting the clutch free throws to put Worcester back in control. Framingham worked to get back into the game but a single three pointer out of 10 in the second made it an uphill battle as Worcester found their free throw shooting success. As the final minutes hit the board, each team traded fouls and chances, but it was Worcester who was able to withstand the pressure for the 71-62 win.

Daleba would lead the Lancers with 19 points, with Annan adding 12 rebounds on 17 points for a double-double. Junior Lorenzo Washington (Middletown, NY) was the attacking force for the Rams with 20 points while Saint Jean would lead the team with six rebounds.

What's Next:

With the win the Lancers (14-12, 11-3) advance to the MASCAC Championship game on Sunday with the final game location to be determined at the conclusion of the Westfield State vs MCLA meeting at 7pm, Friday, February 27th.