Men’s Basketball Hold Off Salem State 65-62 in MASCAC Playoffs

NORTH ADAMS, Mass. – The MCLA Men's Basketball team opened their post-season run this evening in the MASCAC quarterfinals at the Amsler Campus Center Auditorium against the Salem State Vikings. Salem State's Michael Makiej finished with a game-high 27 points and 15 rebounds, while a trio of Trailblazers scored in double-digits to power MCLA into the semifinal round on Thursday.

THE BASICS:

• Date: Tuesday, February 20, 2024
• Score: Salem State 62, MCLA 65
• Records: Salem State Vikings 12-13 (MASCAC 5-7) | MCLA Trailblazers 14-11 (MASCAC 7-5)

HIGHLIGHTS

• The teams traded blows early in the game, with the visiting Vikings twice getting the lead out to four points, the final time being 12-8 with 11:40 on the first half clock.
• MCLA responded with an 11-0 run capped by a Craig Williams three with 9:02 to play in the half.
• The Trailblazers held the lead for the remainder of the half, with Salem State getting to within a point at 26-25 when Wil Martinez converted a fast break layup off a defensive rebound from Michael Makiej. The teams then traded layups before another three from Williams finished the scoring in the half. Sending the teams into the locker room with MCLA up 31-27.
• The nip-and-tuck nature of the game continued into the second half. A dunk by the Trailblazers' Quentin Gittens to open the half, but it seemed that for every basket by the home team, the visitors would respond with one of their own. The pattern continued with the teams finding the game tied at 60 with 2:45 left in regulation. And again at 62 with 1:02 to go after Gittens and Salem's Liam Byrne exchanged layups.
• The game-winning shot came on a 20-foot jump shot by MCLA's Jaxen Potter with 27 seconds remaining.
• After a solid defensive stand by the Trailblazers, Gittens forced a turnover by Makiej and forced the Vikings to foul. Gittens hit the first of two free throws, and then one final opportunity for the visitors resulted in the game ending without a shot.
• Gittens finished with a team-high 21 points, 13 rebounds, and seven assists. The game was his 13^th double-double of the season.
• Williams scored 18 points on the back of a 4-9 showing from beyond the arc. He also gathered eight boards and dished out two assists.
• Potter just missed a double-double, finishing with 11 points and nine rebounds.
• A pair of Vikings finished with double-doubles. Makiej had a game-high 27 points and 15 rebounds, while Byrne had 13 points, fueled by a 7-9 showing at the charity stripe, and 14 boards.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

• Field Goals / %: Salem 20-59 / 33.9%, MCLA 26-64 / 40.6%
• 3 Points / %: Salem 4-17 / 23.5%, MCLA 6-25 / 24%
• Free Throw / %: Salem 18-24 / 75%, MCLA 7-9 / 77.8%
• Rebounds: Salem 37, MCLA 44
• Points off Turnovers: Salem 19, MCLA 5
• Second Chance Points: Salem 18, MCLA 10
• Points in the Paint: Salem 26, MCLA 34
• Bench Points: Salem 7, MCLA 4

UP NEXT:

On Thursday, MCLA will be back in action when they continue their MASCAC playoff run on the road against Worcester State at the WSU Wellness Center. The teams will take the floor for a 7:30 p.m. tip-off.

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