Falcons fall at Seahawks Holiday Classic
The Fitchburg State men’s basketball team suffered a 77-56 setback to St. Mary’s (MD) College Friday afternoon in opening round action of the 2023-24 Seahawks Holiday Classic.
St. Mary’s opened the contest with a 15-1 advantage, capped by a pair of free- throws from Daryn Alexander before Fitchburg State answered with a layup by freshman Joshua Jean Charles for Fitchburg State’s first field goal. The Falcons cut the deficit to 18- 5 as newcomer Diallo Barry buried a jumper, but the Seahawks pushed the lead to 24- 5 with Micah Henry connecting on a layup.
The Green and Gold reduced the lead to 27-12 as freshman Colin Quinn hit a jumper and classmate Kamau Franks drained a 3. The hosts extended advantage to 34-19 as Jaden Walker knocked down a 3- pointer before Fitchburg State closed out the first scoring with freshman Matthew Drayton connecting on a 3 to make the score 34-22 going into the break.
Following the intermission, St. Mary’s upped the lead to 38-24 on a Henry layup before Fitchburg State countered with a 3-pointer from newcomer Keajuan Beco. The Falcons trimmed the lead to 53-38 on another Franks 3 and a Barry layup, but Henry netted a layup for the Seahawks to make the score 55-38.
The hosts pushed the lead to 59- 41 on a pair of free throws by James Lerner, but the Green and Gold answered with a bucket from senior Javon Taylor to cut the lead to 59- 43. The Green and Gold reduced the deficit to 70- 49 on a 3-pointer by freshman Anthony Joseph before the Seahawks secured the victory on a basket by Jake Koverman to put the game far out of reach.
The Falcons were led by Franks with a team-best nine points, three boards, one assist and one steal, while Taylor added eight points, five rebounds, one assist and two steals
The Falcons (2- 9, 0- 0 MASCAC) return to action Saturday as they take on Baruch College in day two action of the 2023-24 Seahawks Holiday Classic at 1 p.m.
Boys basketball LEOMINSTER 65, PELHAM 50 >>
Terrance McCormack erupted for 23 points as the Blue Devils
(7- 0) punched their ticket to the final of the Greater Lowell Christmas Tournament at Westford Academy. Osiris Lopez added
12 points for Leominster, while Michael Keenan had 10.
FITCHBURG 56, ALGONQUIN 49 >> Victor Kukta Reyes scored a game- high 18 points for the Red Raiders (2-3), while Joshua Rodriguez added 14 in the victory.