Men's Basketball Bested by Worcester St.

When and Where:

November 18, 2023 - Williamstown, Massachusetts

Records:

St. Joseph's (L.I.), 2-2

Worcester St., 2-3

Results:

On Saturday afternoon, Worcester State University edged the St. Joseph's University (L.I.) men's basketball team. 

Top performers:

• Junior Xavier Allen led the Golden Eagles with a double-double, recording a game-high 31 points and 17 rebounds to go along with one assist and one steal

• Junior Alec Tabada was an efficient 7-9 from the field, scoring 20 points and adding six rebounds and one block  

• The Lancer's Sam Dion finished with a team-high 24 points off the bench 

• Aaron Nkrumah of Worcester St. completed the double-double with 12 points and 10 rebounds

• Ryan Rubenskas and Jaylen Kirkland each tallied 12 points

• Zion Hendrix totaled 10 points and three rebounds

How it happened:

• As both teams traded baskets early on in the game, midway through the first half, Ryan McNeely collected a steal that led to an and-one layup for Tabada that would tie the game with a made free throw

• The Lancers pulled ahead by six shortly after, but a few minutes later, an Allen three-pointer brought SJLI within one, followed by a Justin Turner steal that provided Allen with a layup to give St. Joseph's the lead by one

• In the final two minutes of the first half, both teams would exchange three-pointers that saw the game tied at 34, but with just 12 seconds remaining, a free throw made from Allen pulled the Golden Eagles ahead by one 

• As the Lancers looked to take the lead back in the second half, back-to-back threes made by Hendrix and Nkrumah provided a five-point cushion five minutes into second-half action

• An Allen jump shot brought SJLI within two points again at the eight-minute mark, but Worcester responded with a three-pointer from Dion and a jumper of their own courtesy of Rubenskas 

• Another three-pointer from Dion allowed the Lancers their most significant lead of the game, going up by 13 with just five minutes to go

• Allen again would provide the Golden Eagles with a much-needed bucket, driving to the basket for a layup, which he got fouled on that saw him convert the and one opportunity at the line

• The Golden Eagles looked to chip away at the lead, but Worcester was able to hang on and secure the 77-68 victory

Notes:

• St. Joseph's shot 38.0% (27-71) from the field and just 18.8% from three-point range

• Worcester St. University shot 38.8% from the field, with an impressive 42.3% showing from beyond the arc

• The Golden Eagles held a 14 rebounding advantage, 53-37

• SJLI scored 40 points in the paint

The Golden Eagles return to action on Tuesday, November 21, when they travel to take on John Jay in a non-conference matchup at 8:00 pm.