Men’s Basketball Drop Regular Season Finale, 90-84 to Salem State

NORTH ADAMS, Mass. – The MCLA Men's Basketball team wrapped up its regular season this afternoon, welcoming the Salem State University Vikings into the Amsler Campus Center Gymnasium. The Trailblazers' Craig Williams led all scorers with 32 points but couldn't overcome a balanced Viking attack that included five different players in double figures.

THE BASICS

• Date: Saturday, February 21, 2026
• Score: Salem State 90, MCLA 84
• Records: Salem State University Vikings 15-10 (MASCAC 8-6) | MCLA Trailblazers 8-15 (MASCAC 5-9)

SENIOR DAY

Before the first game, the Trailblazers recognized the Men's Basketball program's graduating class as part of their senior night celebration. Craig Williams (Dover, DE), Colby Burleson (Pittsboro, NC), Jake Bluestein (San Diego, CA), Jayden Mills (Bronx, NY), and Jaxen Potter (Ballston Spa, NY) were honored by coaches, teammates, family members, and fans for their time with the basketball program. Although their time with the program may end, they will forever be a part of the MCLA family.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• The game was tied at ten points apiece through the opening nearly eight minutes of play until the Vikings' Omri Merryman got a second chance three from the right elbow to kick off a 13-2 run for Salem. After a pair of free throws by MCLA's freshman guard Frank Field (Adams, MA), two layups by the Vikings' Michael Makiej were then followed by Merryman hitting a jumper, a pair of free throws, and finally a three with 9:30 to go in the first half that pushed the road team's lead to 24-12.
• The Trailblazers would push back with an 8-2 run of their own. Kicked off by a three-point play by senior guard Craig Williams (Dover, DE). Williams drew a foul while driving to the hoop and converted the free throw. A Salem layup by Makiej, was then answered with a three by junior guard Kamau Franks (Converse, TX) that was assisted by graduate student forward Jaxen Potter (Ballston Spa, NY) and then finished with Franks assisting on a layup by freshman forward Sol Mierzwa (Austin, TX) with 7:50 to go in the first half, cutting the lead to six, 26-20.
• The scoring picked up in the final seven minutes with the Vikings scoring nearly as many points in the final seven minutes (23) as they did in the first 13 minutes, while MCLA added 15 points in the same span, capped by a three-pointer as the buzzer sounded by Williams, sending the teams into the break with Salem ahead 49-35.
• The Trailblazers chipped away at the deficit, getting to within a single point with just under 11 minutes to go. The run included two free throws and a three-pointer by Field, two free throws by Potter, and a three-pointer by Franks before being capped by a pair of Williams free throws to make the score 59-58.
• The Vikings would respond with another big scoring run, this time 13 unanswered points that started and finished with layups by Nicholas Martinez, pushing the road team's lead to 14 points, 72-58.
• The Trailblazers rallied a second time, pulling within four points with only eight seconds remaining when Williams sank a long jump shot to make the score 88-84. It would be as close as they would get because Merryman hit his final two free throws to set the final score at 90-84.
• Williams led all scorers with 32 points and was joined by graduate student guard Colby Burleson (Pittsboro, NC) (14 points), Field (12 points), and Franks (12 points) as Trailblazers who reached double-digit point totals. Field added a team-leading eight rebounds while Franks had five assists.
• The Vikings had a balanced attack with five players scoring in double-digits. Ali Barry led the way with 23, followed by Raheim Orleans (16 points), Makiej (15 points), Merryman (14 points), and Tyrese Rho (10 points). Orleans just missed a double-double with nine rebounds.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

• Field Goals / %: Salem 29-58 / 50%, MCLA 24-64 / 37.5%
• 3 Points / %: Salem 6-15 / 40%, MCLA 13-34 / 38.2%
• Free Throw / %: Salem 26-37 / 70.3%, MCLA 23-27 / 85.2%
• Rebounds: Salem 40, MCLA 33
• Points off Turnovers: Salem 21, MCLA 19
• Second Chance Points: Salem 20, MCLA 15
• Points in the Paint: Salem 40, MCLA 20
• Bench Points: Salem 40, MCLA 18

UP NEXT

On Tuesday, MCLA will be back in action when it travels to the Twohig Gymnasium at Salem State University for the first round of the MASCAC playoffs. Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m.

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