Men’s Basketball Rally, Take Down Worcester 102-99 in Double OT

NORTH ADAMS, Mass. – The MCLA Men's Basketball team returned to the Amsler Campus Center Gymnasium this evening for a MASCAC matchup with the Worcester State University Lancers. Craig Williams scored 30 points and pulled down nine rebounds to power the Trailblazers to a 102-99 win in double overtime over the conference leading Lancers.

THE BASICS

• Date: Saturday, January 31, 2026
• Score: Worcester 99, MCLA 102
• Records: Worcester State University Lancers 8-11 (MASCAC 6-2) | MCLA Trailblazers 5-12 (MASCAC 2-6)

HIGHLIGHTS

• MCLA opened the game with a pair of haymakers thanks to a three by freshman guard Frank Field (Adams, MA) followed by junior guard Kamau Franks (Converse, TX) converting on a three-point play after draining a jumper.
• The Lancers responded, eventually tying the game at 12 all on a three from Daniel Wondie before MCLA responded with a two way run, consisting of a highlight dunk by senior forward Jayden Mills (Bronx, NY), a blocked shot a rebound by junior guard Kymani Harley (Pittsfield, MA), that led to a layup by Harley off an assist by Mills. Harley then capped the 7-0 run with a wide open three from the left elbow.
• The Trailblazers closed out the first half responding to baskets by Worcester with threes of their own. With just under three and a half minutes, senior guard Craig Williams (Dover, DE) drained the first three, to go up 34-31, then junior guard Colin Quinn (South Hadley, MA) answered buckets by the Lancers with threes to go up 37-36, and then to go up 40-39. A late jumper by Ayme Daguilh would send Worcester into the break with a one-point lead, 41-40.
• The visitors came out with some fire in their eyes, building out a ten-point lead (58-48) as the clock clicked under 13 minutes in the second half, only to see MCLA rally again. A clean jumper by Mills cut the visitors lead to single digits (58-50), before Field picked a Lancer's pocket and passed off to Williams for a three (58-53). Another defensive stop setup freshman forward Sol Mierzwa's (Austin, TX) turn, hitting a three to cut the Worcester lead to two points (58-56) with about 10 and a half minutes to go.
• The Trailblazers would need another rally late in the second half after the Lancers built an eight-point lead (78-70) with around three minutes to play. Quinn started the comeback, drawing a foul and making both shots at the charity stripe to kick off a 10-2 run capped by another three from Williams to close out the half, ending regulation 80-80.
• The contest remained a one possession game for the entirety of the first overtime period. Quinn pulled the home team back to even at 91 with a free throw with 20 seconds remaining. A steal by Franks as the clock expired forced a second bonus period.
• Graduate student guard Colby Burleson (Pittsboro, NC) opened the second OT with a statement three over a pair of defenders ahead of Mills forcing a Lancer into a poor shot in close to the hoop. Quinn came away with the defensive rebound and was then fouled driving to the basket and again converted on both free throw attempts.
• It was then Worcester's turn to rally, going on a 6-1 run capped by a dunk from Ethan Daleba with just over two minutes remaining to tie the game at 97-97.
• Two free throws by Williams were answered by a jumper from Daleba, again tying the game at 99-99 with 76 seconds to go.
• The final basket of the game would come with more than a minute still on the clock, thanks to a turnaround jumper by Williams. Quinn iced the win with a free throw to set the final score at 102-99

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

• Field Goals / %: Worcester 39-86 / 45.3%, MCLA 33-68 / 48.5%
• 3 Points / %: Worcester 10-22 / 45.5%, MCLA 16-27 / 59.3%
• Free Throw / %: Worcester 11-22 / 50%, MCLA 20-25 / 80%
• Rebounds: Worcester 43, MCLA 44
• Points off Turnovers: Worcester 32, MCLA 19
• Second Chance Points: Worcester 21, MCLA 6
• Points in the Paint: Worcester 48, MCLA 24
• Bench Points: Worcester 26, MCLA 38

UP NEXT

On Wednesday, MCLA will be back in action when it plays host to Anna Maria College in the Amsler Campus Center Gymnasium for a MASCAC matchup with the AMCATs. Tip-off is scheduled for 2 p.m.

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