Men’s Basketball Upset Salem 76-73 on Quinn Three

SALEM, Mass. – The MCLA Men's Basketball team opened its playoff run this evening, with the sixth-seeded Trailblazers heading to the third-seeded Salem State University. Craig Williams scored a game-high 21 points, and Colin Quinn drained a wide-open three from the top of the key as the clock expired to send MCLA on to the semifinal round against Westfield on Thursday.

THE BASICS

• Date: Wednesday, February 25, 2026
• Score: #6 MCLA 76, #3 Salem 73
• Records: MCLA Trailblazers 8-15 (MASCAC 5-9) | Salem State University Vikings 15-10 (MASCAC 8-6)

HIGHLIGHTS

• The Vikings opened the game by building a double-figure lead just past the midpoint of the first half. Omri Merryman pushed the home team's lead out to 11 points, hitting a three-pointer in transition with 9:07 on the clock and forcing MCLA to call a timeout.
• The lead was short-lived, however, with the Trailblazers responding with a 12-2 run to cut the lead back to one point. The run was started with seven straight points by junior guard Kymani Harley (Pittsfield, MA) on a free throw and a pair of three-pointers. After a Salem layup by Jamel Walker, senior guard Craig Williams (Dover, DE) cancelled it out with a layup for the road team, and then junior guard Colin Quinn (South Hadley, MA) drew a foul on a three-point attempt and converted on all three free throws, cutting the Vikings' lead back to a single point.
• The home team would respond but wouldn't grow their lead beyond five points, and would go into the halftime locker room ahead 40-36.
• The second half featured more back-and-forth play, with five ties and five lead changes. A layup by Quinn provided the Trailblazers with their first lead of the second half at 48-47 just under five minutes into the second frame, but was responded in kind by Salem's Tyrese Rho, only to see MCLA take the lead back with an emphatic dunk from the low block by senior forward Jayden Mills (Bronx, NY). A pair of free throws by freshman guard Frank Field (Adams, MA) saw the largest lead of the half for the road team at 52-49 with 13:41 remaining.
• The home team still had fight in them, eventually growing a lead of ten points with eight and a half minutes to play on a free throw by Walker, making the score 63-53. The Trailblazers got up off the mat, chipping away a double-digit lead for the second time in the game to tie the game at 65-65, capping the 12-2 run with a layup by Quinn, and then took the lead when he converted on the and-one basket.
• The fans were treated to a nailbiter with Rho again tying the game, this time at 73-73 with a second-chance layup with 23 seconds to go.
• With the game on the line, Williams brought the ball up the floor for the Trailblazers, holding for a final shot. As the clock ticked under four seconds to play, he drove towards the basket, drawing a double team near the foul line, and passing out to a wide-open Quinn, who splashed the game-winner as the clock sounded.
• Williams led all scorers with 21 points, followed by Quinn with 19 points. Williams also led MCLA with 10 rebounds for his second double-double of the season.
• Salem was led by a quartet of players with double-figure point totals, getting 16 points from Ali Barry, 14 by Walker, 12 from Rho, and 10 from Raheim Orleans. Orleans completed a double-double with a game-high 12 boards.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

• Field Goals / %: MCLA 25-63 / 39.7%, Salem 23-54 / 42.6%
• 3 Points / %: MCLA 5-18 / 27.8%, Salem 6-14 / 42.9%
• Free Throw / %: MCLA 21-30 / 70%, Salem 21-32 / 65.6%
• Rebounds: MCLA 35, Salem 43
• Points off Turnovers: MCLA 17, Salem 13
• Second Chance Points: MCLA 12, Salem 13
• Points in the Paint: MCLA 38, Salem 26
• Bench Points: MCLA 17, Salem 21

UP NEXT

On Friday, MCLA will continue their playoff run when it travels to the Woodward Center and Westfield State University for a semifinal matchup with the Owls. Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m.

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