Junior David Rukstalis (Norwood, MA) added 17 points and seven rebounds, shooting an impressive 8-for-12 from the floor. Seniors Matt Badiali (Raynham, MA) and Peter Santos (Fairhaven, MA) added 15 and 14 points, respectively. Badiali added five rebounds and four steals, while Santos pulled down seven rebounds.
Fitchburg senior Jim Prignano (W. Hartford, CT) led the Bears with 16 points, while fellow senior Dan Largesse (Sutton, MA) chipped in with 12. Graduate student Rashad Cope (Roxbury, MA) finished with an impressive 11 points and 8 rebounds, in his final game for the Falcons.
With the win, the Bears earn the third seed in next week’s MASCAC Championship Tournament. BSC is now 14-11 overall and 7-5 in conference play. The Bears will travel to the second seeded Rams of Framingham State College next Wednesday at 7 in the tournament semifinals. Salem State hosts Westfield State in the other semifinal matchup, set to start at 8:00 on Wednesday. Fitchburg ends the season at 6-19 and 3-9 in the MASCAC.
Newspaper Box Score Fitchburg State vs Bridgewater State 02/19/05 7:00 PM at Bridgewater, MA At Bridgewater, MA BRIDGEWATER STATE 84, FITCHBURG STATE 69 FITCHBURG STATE (6-19, 3-9) Jim Prignano 4-8 5-6 16; Dan Largesse 4-10 1-2 12; Rashad Cope 5-10 1-3 11; Brian Torres 2-10 2-2 8; Adam DiZuzio 3-6 0-0 7; Peter Uzoma 2-6 3-4 7; Brian Skiffington 1-2 2-2 4; Matt Collins 1-3 0-0 2; Mark Giusto 1-3 0-0 2; Joe Sabbagh 0-1 0-1 0. Totals 23-59 14-20 69. BRIDGEWATER STATE (14-11, 7-5) Chris Hayes 7-13 8-11 22; David Rukstalis 8-12 0-0 17; Matt Badiali 5-13 3-415; Peter Santos 4-8 6-7 14; Mike Rondeau 3-7 0-0 6; Brian Adamczyk 2-3 0-0 4; Derek Thompson 0-0 2-2 2; Cliff Furtado 1-2 0-0 2; Dwayne Wilkerson 1-3 0-0 2; Tom Cuddihy 0-3 0-0 0; Matt Schnider 0-1 0-0 0; Ryan Devereaux 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 31-65 19-24 84. Fitchburg State............... 28 41 - 69 Bridgewater State............. 46 38 - 84 3-point goals- Fitchburg State 9-22 (Dan Largesse 3-5; Jim Prignano 3-5; Brian Torres 2-7; Adam DiZuzio 1-1; Matt Collins 0-2; Mark Giusto 0-1; Brian Skiffington 0-1), Bridgewater State 3-13 (Matt Badiali 2-5; David Rukstalis 1-2; Tom Cuddihy 0-3; Peter Santos 0-3). Fouled out-- Fitchburg State-Rashad Cope, Bridgewater State-None. Rebounds- Fitchburg State 35 (Rashad Cope 8; Peter Uzoma 8), Bridgewater State 43 (Chris Hayes 9). Assists- Fitchburg State 16 (Jim Prignano 3), Bridgewater State 20 (Brian Adamczyk 5). Total fouls- Fitchburg State 18, Bridgewater State 17. A-450