MCLA upsets 4th Seeded Worcester 73-65, faces top seeded Salem State Thursday
Jamal Brown scored a game high 20 points as MCLA advanced to the MASCAC semifinals to face top seeded Salem State.
Worcester, MA- The fifth seeded MCLA Trailblazers went on the road to defeat fourth seeded Worcester State 73-65 in the MASCAC quarterfinals and in the process advance to the semifinal round where they will travel to battle top seeded Salem State University Thursday night at 7:00pm. The Trailblazer victory snaps a six game slide and MCLA improves to 8-18. Worcester completes its season at 8-18.
MCLA held a slim 32-28 lead after the opening twenty minutes of play. The Trailblazers really took command at the onset of the second half, scoring the first six points out of the locker room. Chris Harris started the run with back to back buckets, while Jamal Brown finished it off with one of his own as MCLA opened up a 38-28 lead.
Worcester would cut the lead to seven at 40-33 following Robert Hunter's three point play, but MCLA responded with a key run to put the game out of reach. The Trailblazers used a 13-2 burst to jump out to a commanding 18 point lead at 53-35 with 10:12 remaining. Brown had six points in the run, while reserve Bilal Shabazz closed it with a pair of layups.
Worcester did respond with an 11-0 run of its own to cut the lead to 53-46 with 6:32 left, but MCLA countered with an 8-3 spurt, pushing the lead back into double figures.
The Lancers did get within six points with under a minute remaining, but MCLA made some key free throws down to the stretch to advance.
Brown finished with 20 points and 12 rebounds to lead MCLA. Harris added 15 and Michael Young collected 12 in the win. Tyrell Mosley also collected his 1,000th career point in the win. Mosley's total includes his two year performance at Mass Bay Community College. He finished with 9 points.
The Lancers were led by Hunter's 17 points and 11 rebounds. Mike Gittens came off the bench to collect 14 points, while Frank Stephenson added 13 points and 7 assists. Monte Goodwin finished with 11 points and 4 blocks.
MCLA advances to face the top seed in Salem State. The Vikings swept the season series from MCLA. In the other semifinal, Westfield State advanced to face second seeded Bridgewater State. The Championship game will be played on Saturday at the site of the highest remaining seed.