Fitchburg State Stuns Men's Basketball, 74-72

BRIDGEWATER, Mass. – Mike Ingram-Rubin's (Boston, Mass.) game-winning layup with one second remaining lifted the visiting Falcons of Fitchburg State University to a dramatic 74-72 victory over Bridgewater State University in Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) men's basketball action on Saturday afternoon at the Tinsley Center.

Fitchburg improves to 10-8 on the season and 2-5 in the MASCAC, while Bridgewater slips to 8-10 overall and 3-4 in conference play.  The win marked the Falcons' first victory over the Bears in Bridgewater since the 2003-2004 season.

A game that featured ten ties and 11 lead changes came down to the final minute of play.  Trailing 72-71, the Bears got a big steal from senior forward Anthony Fortes (Providence, R.I.).  Senior guard Shawn Yard (Brockton, Mass.) was fouled with 45 seconds remaining, made the first free throw to knot the score at 72-72, but missed the second.  Fortes came up with a huge offensive rebound and was fouled, but missed the front end of a one-on-one.

Out of a time out with 27 seconds left to play, Fitchburg had a chance to take the lead.  The Falcons, however, were whistled for a shot clock violation.  The Bears took over with eight seconds remaining, but turned the ball over on an errant inbounds pass.  That would set the stage for Ingrim-Rubin's heroics as the junior guard drove around a BSU defender and floated the winning bucket in off the backboard with one second on the clock.  Bridgewater still had a shot to tie the game as junior forward Michael Grandfield (Dartmouth, Mass.) executed a perfect baseball pass to Fortes who caught the ball at the free throw line. Fortes game-tying attempt was off the mark however as Fitchburg escaped with the win.

Senior center Zach Valliere (Douglas, Mass.) paced the visitors with 16 points and nine rebounds, while Ingram-Rubin finished with 13 points, four boards and a pair of steals.  Senior guard Jeremy Kimber (Fitchburg, Mass.) added 13 points and two blocks, while senior forward Tom Henneberry (Lexington, Mass.) chipped in with nine points, ten rebounds and two steals.

BSU sophomore forward Michael Lofton (Mansfield, Mass.) led three Bears in double-figure scoring as he notched 14 points to go along with six rebounds, and two steals.  Yard filled the stat sheet with 12 points and five boards as well as a game-high eight assists and eight steals.  Junior guard Brian Grossman (Duxbury, Mass.) came off the bench to score 11 points as he was 3-for-4 from three-point range.

Fitchburg shot 54% (30-56) from the field and held a 36-27 rebounding advantage ,. The Falcons also controlled the paint outscoring the Bears, 48-36, and recorded a 24-14 edge in points off turnovers.

Bridgewater started off the game by shooting 55% (16-29) in the opening stanza and connected on 6 of 11 from three-point land before cooling off to a 38% (11-29) clip in the final period.  BSU converted just 1 of 8 from behind the arc over the final twenty minutes.  The Bears' reserves outscored their counterparts, 37-13, including a 31-7 margin in the first half.  

In upcoming action, the Bears entertain MASCAC foe Framingham State University on Tuesday night at 7:30.  The Falcons are off until next Saturday afternoon when they travel to Framingham State to take on the Rams at three.