Second half dooms MCLA men in loss to Worcester State

Worcester, MA- The MCLA Men's Basketball team led for most of the first half, but Worcester State used a strong second half surge to earn an 86-68 conference win over the Trailblazers.  The Lancers improve to 9-7 overall and sit at 2-1 in the MASCAC.  MCLA falls to 4-11 overall but is still in search of their first conference win as they are 0-3.

Tyler Dion led all scorers with 18 points while Erik Bjorn added 16 points and 15 rebounds in the win.  Shaun McCarthy ended with 13 points and 9 rebounds.

MCLA led by a point at halftime and then 48-44 following a Gerald Herbert jumper before the Lancers made their game changing run.  Worcester used a 13-1 spurt to pull ahead 57-49 with nine minutes remaining in the contest and never looked back.  After a Frantz Francois three point play extended the lead to double figures, MCLA would never threaten again.

The lead would extend to as much as 19 points as the Lancers cruised home from there.

Both teams shot 37% from the field, but the Lancers owned a commanding 62-35 rebounding advantage.  

Dion was just 4-14 from the floor but went 7-8 from the line for his 18 point night.  Bjorn was an efficient 7-11 shooting for Worcester State.  

Antoine Montgomery led MCLA with 17 points and 4 steals.  No other Trailblazers reached double figures.  

MCLA is back home on Wednesday when they host Fitchburg State at 5:30pm.