Bridgewater makes plays late to upend MCLA 70-62 in Men's Basketball

Courtesy of BSU Sports Information

BRIDGEWATER, Mass. – Senior forward Michael Lofton (Mansfield, Mass.) posted a double-double with game-high totals of 24 points and 13 rebounds to lead the Bridgewater State University men's basketball team to a 70-62 Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) victory over visiting MCLA on Saturday afternoon at the Tinsley Center.

The host Bears improve to 13-6 on the season and 6-1 in the MASCAC with their sixth straight win, while the Trailblazers fall to 6-13 overall and 3-4 in conference play.

Lofton, who notched his 800th career rebound during the contest, connected on 7 of 13 field goal attempts and went 10-for-15 at the free throw line.  He also recorded three assists and a steal.

Senior guard Barrett Murphy (Marshfield, Mass.) chipped in 17 points to go along with four rebounds, three assists and a steal, while senior forward Kyle Gibson (Franklin, Mass.) added 15 points, seven boards, two assists and a pair of steals.

Junior guard Paul Maurice (Mattapan, Mass.) paced the Trailblazers with 18 points on 7 of 11 shooting including 3-for-5 from behind the arc.  Junior forward Khalil Paul (Troy, N.Y.) and senior forward Todd Hunt (Cambridge, N.Y.) added nine and eight points, respectively, off the bench.

In a back-and-forth game which featured eight ties and 14 lead changes, neither team led by more than six points until the final minute of play.

Trailing with under six minutes remaining, Murphy knocked down a three-pointer to put the Bears on top, 55-54.  Senior guardRuben Delrosario (Springfield, Mass.) answered with a driving layup to not only reclaim the lead for the Trailblazers but to also reach the 1,000-point milestone.  Murphy connected on a pair of free throws two possessions later and Delrosario made 1 of 2 at the line at the other end of the floor to knot the score at 57-57 with 4:59 left to play.  BSU senior guard Justin Clark (Yarmouth Port, Mass.) then drove the baseline for a layup and foul.  The ensuing made free throw gave the hosts a 60-57 lead that they would not relinquish.

A layup by Paul was answered by a pair of free throws by Lofton as the clock ticked under four minutes.  Maurice converted 1 of 2 free throws to cut the deficit to 62-60, but Gibson knocked down a foul line jumper at the other end of the floor to push the BSU advantage to four.  After a stop, the Bears had a chance to extend the lead but turned the ball over.  Delrosario took advantage of the miscue as he made a tough off-balance shot off the glass to pull the visitors to within two, 64-62, with 1:24 showing on the scoreboard.

Following an MCLA timeout, Lofton was fouled with just over a minute remaining but missed both free throws.  Murphy, however, grabbed the offensive rebound and Gibson drained a clutch three-pointer with just 28 seconds left to give the hosts a 67-62 lead.  After a missed MCLA three, Gibson corralled the defensive board and was fouled.  The Trailblazers were also whistled for a pair of technical fouls as things got a little chippy.  Gibson would make 3 of 6 free throws at the other end of the floor to secure the win.

Bridgewater shot 39% (20-52) from the floor and just 22% (4-18) from three-point range.  The Bears went to the free throw line 40 times and converted on 26 as they outscored the Trailblazers, 40-26, at the charity stripe, 26-7.  BSU also held a 39-30 rebounding advantage including an 11-6 edge off the offensive glass.

MCLA converted on 42% of its field goal attempts and went 7-for-18 (39%) from behind the arc.

The MASCAC schedule continues for both teams on Tuesday evening.  The Bears entertain the Owls of Westfield State University at 7:30, while the Trailblazers travel to Worcester State University for an eight o'clock game with the Lancers.