The Falcons beat Mass. College of Liberal Arts on Thursday before ending their season with a dramatic 76-75 victory over Bridgewater State College Saturday at the FSC Recreation Center to reach 10 wins for the seventh time in 10 years.
Despite the loss, Bridgewater (12-12, 8-4 MASCAC) still has some games left in its season as the second-seeded Bears host either Worcester State or Westfield State in the semifinals of the MASCAC tourney Wednesday.
“Even when the dream died Tuesday, to these kids credit, we didn’t give up and finished the year strong,” commented Conrad. “I’m real happy for the seniors. They have dealt with a lot of adversity in the past couple years and I’m very happy for them they walked out of here with double digit wins.”
“This was real big,” said senior Rashad Cope (Dorchester/Snowden), who is considering coming back for his fourth year of eligibility next year despite being slated to graduate this June. “I wish we had got the win at Framingham and made the tourney, but I had fun. The whole year was good.”
Cope was instrumental in the Falcons second win over the Bears, scoring the hosts final four points of the game to finish with a team-high 20 points and 13 rebounds while holding David Rukstalis (Norwood, MA) to just four points, 12 below his average. Fellow senior Matt Costello (Rockport, MA)added 18 points and eight rebounds while Jim Prignano (West Hartford, CT/NW Catholic) and Ja’Quaine Coe (Holden/Wachusett Regional) chipped in with 11 and 10 points respectively.
Matt Badiali (Raynham/Bridgewater-Raynham) led Bridgewater with a career high 31 points while Jerry Richardson (Shresbury, MA) scored a season-high 16 points and Peter Santos (Fairhaven/Bishop Stang) added 14 points and 11 rebounds.
After Ryan Anderson (N. Easton/Oliver Ames) connected on the first of two from the free throw line with 39.7 seconds to play in the game to pull the Bears within two points, 72-70, the game got really interesting.
Santos pulled down Anderson’s missed second free throw and found Badiali open at the top of the key for his sixth 3-pointer of the game, giving the Bears their first lead of the second half with less than 30 seconds to play, 73-72.
Cope answered for Fitchburg State, converting a conventional three-point play to put FSC back on top, 75-73, with 18.7 showing on the scoreboard.
Bridgewater still wouldn’t go quietly as Richardson put back a Santos miss to tie the game at 75.
Cope then sealed the win, beating the Bears defense downcourt and catching a long pass from Dan Largesse and drawing a foul on his way to the hoop. Cope drained the first of two with 3 seconds to play to give Fitchburg the lead. Cope missed his second free throw, allowing the clock to run out as the Bears tried to get the ball up court.
Fitchburg turned around their recent free throw shooting woes, connecting on 25 of 30 free throws.
By Kevin O’Malley
Correspondent
Newspaper Box Score Bridgewater State vs Fitchburg State College Men 2/21/04 3:00pm at Fitchburg, MA At Fitchburg, MA FITCHBURG STATE COLLEGE MEN 76, BRIDGEWATER STATE 75 BRIDGEWATER STATE (12-12, 8-4) Matt Badiali 11-21 3-3 31; Jerry Richardson 7-11 2-5 16; Peter Santos 4-17 4-5 14; David Rukstalis 1-8 2-2 4; Tim Ryan 2-5 0-0 4; Ryan Anderson 1-3 1-1 3; Chris Hayes 1-1 0-0 2; Mike Rondeau 0-2 1-2 1; Billy Hymon 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 27-69 13-18 75. FITCHBURG STATE COLLEGE MEN (10-14, 5-7) Rashad Cope 6-14 8-11 20; Matthew Costello 4-9 10-11 18; Jim Prignano 3-9 4-4 11; Ja'Quaine Coe 4-12 1-2 10; Dan Largesse 2-7 0-0 6; Patrick McCarthy 2-4 2-2 6; Jay Pratt 2-3 0-0 5. Totals 23-58 25-30 76. Bridgewater State............. 33 42 - 75 Fitchburg State College Men... 37 39 - 76 3-point goals- Bridgewater State 8-20 (Matt Badiali 6-14; Peter Santos 2-4; Billy Hymon 0-1; Jerry Richardson 0-1), Fitchburg State College Men 5-16 (Dan Largesse 2-6; Ja'Quaine Coe 1-4; Jay Pratt 1-2; Jim Prignano 1-3; Rashad Cope 0-1). Fouled out- Bridgewater State-None, Fitchburg State College Men-None. Rebounds- Bridgewater State 39 (Peter Santos 11), Fitchburg State College Men 47 (Rashad Cope 13). Assists- Bridgewater State 12 (Ryan Anderson 6), Fitchburg State College Men 15 (Ja'Quaine Coe 6). Total fouls- Bridgewater State 23, Fitchburg State College Men 17. A-150