Men's Basketball Outlasts Trailblazers in Overtime Thriller on Senior Day

FRAMINGHAM, MASS. – Joshua Saint Jean posted a monster double-double and Framingham State held MCLA to just six points in overtime to pull away for an 86-81 victory on Saturday afternoon at Logan Gymnasium. The Rams honored seniors Ben Eshun, Vondre Chase, and AJ Thompson in a pregame ceremony before the game.

THE BASICS:

• Score: Framingham State 86, MCLA 81 (OT)
• Records: Framingham State (13-10, 6-6 MASCAC), MCLA (7-14, 4-8 MASCAC)
• Location: Logan Gymnasium – Framingham, Mass.

HOW IT HAPPENED:

• MCLA's Craig Williams opened the scoring with a three-pointer just 27 seconds in, but the Rams answered with a 7-0 run fueled by a Fallou Koite layup and a Lorenzo Washington layup-and-one to grab a 5-3 lead they would not relinquish for most of the first half.
• Koite was electric early, knocking down back-to-back threes to push Framingham State's lead to 26-18 midway through the first half. The Trailblazers clawed back behind Jaxen Potter (8 first-half points on 4-of-4 shooting) and a Colin Quinn three, trimming the deficit to 36-33 at the break. Koite led all scorers with 14 first-half points on 4-of-8 shooting while going 4-for-4 at the line, and Saint Jean added 12 points and eight rebounds in the opening 20 minutes.
• Framingham State opened the second half on a strong run, with Saint Jean and Koite combining to push the advantage to 53-44. The Rams' largest lead of the game came at the 6:32 mark when Saint Jean threw down a dunk to make it 63-52.
• MCLA refused to go away. Quinn caught fire from beyond the arc, drilling three second-half threes, and Williams converted a layup-and-one to pull the Trailblazers within six at 53-47. A Colby Burleson three cut it to 53-47, and MCLA continued to chip away. Kamau Franks drilled a three to make it 65-70, and Quinn's layup and free throw at 2:10 knotted the score at 70-70.
• Saint Jean answered with two free throws to put the Rams back in front 72-70, but Frank Field's layup with 1:32 remaining tied it again at 72-72. Makyle Hayes split a pair at the line to give Framingham State a 73-72 edge before Quinn buried a clutch three-pointer to put MCLA ahead 75-73 with under a minute to play.
• Hayes answered right back with a layup to tie it at 75-75 with 18 seconds left. Williams' contested layup at the buzzer was swatted away by Saint Jean, and Quinn's putback attempt was off the mark, sending the game to overtime.
• Williams scored the first bucket of overtime on a layup to give MCLA a 77-75 lead, but Saint Jean tied it with two free throws. Franks split a pair to put MCLA back ahead 78-77, and the teams traded empty possessions before Domonick Victor's go-ahead layup off a Washington feed gave the Rams a 79-78 lead with 2:23 remaining.
• MCLA could not find an answer down the stretch. Victor and Korbin Gann combined to block three shots in the extra period, and Williams misfired on three attempts in the final three minutes. Hayes converted two free throws to extend the lead to 81-78, and after a Franks three-point miss, Hayes grabbed an offensive rebound off a Gann miss and converted a layup to make it 83-78. Washington sealed it at the line, and though Williams hit a late three to cut it to 85-81, the Rams closed the door with free throws for the 86-81 final.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS:

• Joshua Saint Jean dominated inside with 26 points (8-19 FG, 10-10 FT) and a game-high 15 rebounds, including eight on the offensive glass. He also blocked the potential game-winning shot at the end of regulation.
• Fallou Koite added 21 points (6-14 FG, 3-7 3PT, 6-6 FT), six rebounds, and three steals in 23 minutes before fouling out.
• Lorenzo Washington stuffed the stat sheet with 10 points, nine rebounds, and a game-high five assists. He also hit clutch free throws in overtime to help ice the victory.
• Senior Vondre Chase contributed 10 points including a pair of threes, while fellow senior AJ Thompson added two points, four rebounds, and a block in 22 minutes off the bench.
• Makyle Hayes provided a huge spark off the bench with seven points, two steals, and two assists. His two offensive rebounds in overtime were pivotal, including the one that led to his go-ahead layup.
• Domonick Victor made his presence felt in overtime with a go-ahead layup and two blocks in just four minutes of action in the extra period. Framingham State finished with five blocks as a team.
• The Rams dominated the glass 52-34, including a 17-10 advantage on the offensive boards, leading to a 21-13 edge in second-chance points.
• Framingham State went 25-of-32 from the free throw line (78.1%), including 7-of-12 in overtime when the game was on the line.
• The game featured 15 lead changes and six ties, with neither team leading by more than 11.
• Craig Williams led MCLA with 27 points, eight rebounds, and two steals in 45 minutes. Colin Quinn added 20 points on five three-pointers.

UP NEXT:

• Framingham State hits the road to face Bridgewater State on Wednesday, February 18 at 7:30 PM in MASCAC action.