Yearsley goes for 39 but Men’s Basketball falls to Bridgewater State, 79-75
MCLA’s Noah Yearsley scored a career-high 39 points this afternoon but Bridgewater State outlasted the Trailblazers 79-75
North Adams, MA- Bridgewater State's Emerson Halbleib scored 23 points and collected twenty-six rebounds leading the Bears to a 79-75 win over MCLA today in MASCAC action. With the win Bridgewater State improves to 18-7 (8-4 MASCAC) and secured the #2 seed in next week's conference tournament. MCLA fell to 7-16 (3-9 MASCAC) and will be the #6 seed.
Bridgewater State would connect on eight 3-pointers in the first half, but MCLA countered by shooting 47.5% from the field including deep 3-pointer by Noah Yearsley in the final seconds to give the Trailblazers a 45-38 lead heading into the locker room.
A Reece Racette layup four minutes into the second half would stretch the MCLA lead to 50-42. However, the visitors would mount a 9-0 run to grab the lead, 51-50 after an Alex Gonzales free throw with 13:37 to play.
Down 60-59 after a Yearsley layup, the Trailblazers would concede 7-0 run capped off by a Quinton Champagne layup with just over six minutes to play making it 67-59.
Three minutes later Emerson Halbleib would put the Bears up 73-62 and the game looked to be over.
But MCLA would make one more run. Yearsley would connect on three 3-pointers the last of which would trim the deficit to 77-75 with just under a minute left.
After a missed Bridgewater free throw, the Trailblazers would have one last chance, but the well finally ran dry as Yearsley's 3-pointer was off the mark. Two Halbleib free throws would secure the win for Bridgewater State, 79-75.
Halbleib would finish with an impressive double-double scoring 23 points and grabbing 26 rebounds. Dante Kikuba (14 points), Quinton Champagne (13 points) and Alex Gonzales (11 points) all had strong games for the Bears.
MCLA was led by Yearsley who finished with a career and game-high 39 points. JoJo Garcia earned a double-double of his own with 10 points and ten rebounds.
Making their final home appearance, MCLA seniors Noah Yearsley and Reece Racette were honored before the game.
MCLA will head into next week's MASCAC Men's Basketball post-season tournament as the #6 seed and will visit #3 Westfield State Tuesday at 5:30pm. Bridgewater State as the #2 seed will await the winner of that contest and host the semifinal on Thursday.