Worcester State opened the game with a 9-0 run but Fitchburg battled back and tied the game when Nick Smith (Fitchburg, MA) put back a missed Falcon free throw to tie the game at, 25-25 with 7 minutes left. The two teams traded the lead for the last minutes of the half with Worcester State holding the slight edge, 40-39, at the break. Senior Tom Sullivan (Auburn, MA) tallied 11 first half points for the Lancers. Jermaine Cannon (Dorchester, MA) and Ryan Hopkins (Oxford, MA) each added 8 points. Smith led the way for the Falcons in the first half scoring 10 points and grabbing 6 rebounds, Dan Largesse (Sutton, MA) chipped in with 8 points and 5 boards.
Fitchburg jumped out early in the second half quickly gaining the lead and extending it to as many as nine points. Worcester State tied the score at, 72-72, on two Sullivan free throws with 3:21 remaining. Fitchburg took the lead back when Largesse was fouled shooting a three pointer and hit 2 of 3 free throws. Rashad Cope (Roxbury, MA) rebounded the miss on the third shot and put it back for a, 76-72, Falcon advantage. Worcester State would get the deficit back to one, 80-79, on a lay-up by Jason Garrett (Newark, NJ). After a Falcon turnover with 22 seconds left Worcester State had one last shot with 2.3 seconds left but a jump shot rimmed out and a desperation tip fell short giving Fitchburg State the victory.
Fitchburg State was paced by Largesse who finished with 17 points and 6 rebounds. Cope finished with 15 points and Smith had a double-double with 12 points and 12 rebounds. Worcester State was led by Sullivan who had a game-high 23 points. Junior Tyson Drayton (Roxbury, MA) had 17 points and Cannon added 14 points and 11 rebounds.
Fitchburg will next take to the court on Saturday when they travel to Salem State to take on the Vikings. Worcester State will host Westfield State Owls on Saturday afternoon.
Story by John Meany - Worcester State Sports Information
Newspaper Box Score Worcester State vs Fitchburg State 2/1/05 7:30pm at Fitchburg, MA At Fitchburg, MA FITCHBURG STATE 80, WORCESTER STATE 79 WORCESTER STATE (10-8, 3-4) Tom Sullivan 8-12 7-8 23; Tyson Drayton 6-14 4-6 17; Jermaine Cannon 5-11 4-5 14; Ryan Hopkins 3-4 0-0 8; Ryan Connor 2-6 2-2 7; Jason Garrett 1-6 2-4 4; Teddy Brown 1-3 2-2 4; Will Spont 1-2 0-0 2. Totals 27-58 21-27 79. FITCHBURG STATE (4-15, 2-5) Brian Torres 5-9 5-6 18; Dan Largesse 5-8 4-6 17; Rashad Cope 6-9 3-6 15; Nick Smith 5-10 2-3 12; Peter Uzoma 3-7 2-2 8; Jim Prignano 2-11 1-2 6; Brian Skiffington 1-4 0-0 2; Adam DiZuzio 1-2 0-0 2; Dan Koen 0-0 0-0 0; Matt Collins 0-6 0-0 0. Totals 28-66 17-25 80. Worcester State............... 40 39 - 79 Fitchburg State............... 39 41 - 80 3-point goals- Worcester State 4-11 (Ryan Hopkins 2-2; Tyson Drayton 1-3; Ryan Connor 1-2; Jason Garrett 0-3; Tom Sullivan 0-1), Fitchburg State 7-21 (Brian Torres 3-5; Dan Largesse 3-6; Jim Prignano 1-3; Brian Skiffington 0-3; Matt Collins 0-4). Fouled out-- Worcester State-None, Fitchburg State-Jim Prignano. Rebounds- Worcester State 34 (Jermaine Cannon 11), Fitchburg State 40 (Nick Smith 12). Assists- Worcester State 15 (Jason Garrett 7), Fitchburg State 10 (Brian Torres 3; Jim Prignano 3). Total fouls- Worcester State 18, Fitchburg State 23. A-200