Fitchburg State Defeats Framingham State 64-63

By Framingham State athletics

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FRAMINGHAM – The Fitchburg State men’s basketball team erased a six-point deficit with two minutes to play to defeat Framingham State by a score of 64-63 in MASCAC action Wednesday evening in Framingham.  

Framingham State falls to 4-12 overall and 1-2 in the Conference.

Falcons remain undefeated in the Conference and improve to 7-6 overall.

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HOW IT HAPPENED:  

• The Rams jumped out to an early five-point lead after a Marshall Martin layup five minutes in but the Falcons would battle back to tie the game around the midway mark of the first.  
• The rest of the first half stayed tight with numerous ties and lead changes until the Rams scored the last five points on a trey by JD Okafor and layup by Jahden Erold to send the teams into the break with the Rams leading 32-29.  
• Fitchburg jumped out to a six-point lead over the first few minutes of the second half when the Rams went on a 20-2 run capped by a Okafor trey to lead to 52-40 with just over ten minutes to play.  
• The Falcons again chipped into the Rams lead going on an 11-0 run of their own to cut to within one after a Tyrone Manderson finish with just over six minutes to play. The visitors tied the game back up at 54 with just over three remaining.  
• The Rams scored on their next three possessions, four of the points coming from Juran Ligonde to push the lead to six with just over 90 seconds to go.  
• The Rams went 3-for-12 from the foul line over the next minute plus to allow the Falcons to have possession with six seconds to go trailing 63-62. Matthew Tanis drove the lane and put up a layup at the buzzer but was fouled with .3 seconds to play. He made both of his free throws to capture the 64-63 victory.  

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INSIDE THE NUMBERS: 

• Tajahn Joyner led the Falcons with 14 points with six boards, two steals and an assist. Fredrick Siayor added 14 points with five rebounds, a swipe and an assist.  
• Dayne Allen picked up the double-double with 12 points and 10 boards while Tanis added 12 off the bench including the game winners.  
• Okafor led all scorers for the Rams dropping 20 points on 6-of-12 from the floor and grabbing six rebounds. Ligonde added 14 points with eight boards.  
• The Rams shot 36% from the floor, 11% from long range and 58% from the line. The Falcons were 39% from the field, 24% from beyond the arc and 65% from the charity stripe.  
• The Falcons took advantage of the second chance points converting for 28 compared to the Rams 8.  

UP NEXT: Framingham State returns to the court on Saturday when they travel to MCLA for a MASCAC tilt starting at noon. The Falcons will travel to Salem State in MASCAC action on Saturday at noon.  

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