Lancers Hand Vikings First Conference Loss

SALEM, Mass. – Worcester State's Chris Cardoso (Jamaica Plain, Mass.) scored 28 points and Erik Bjorn (Holden, Mass.) tallied a double-double of 17 points and 17 rebounds as the Lancers knocked off Salem State 92-87 in a Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) contest on Friday evening at Twohig Gymnasium. Worcester State goes to 9-10 on the year and 4-2 in conference as they hand Salem State (10-8) their first MASCAC loss of the season (6-1), snapping a six-game winning streak for the Vikings. 

Cardoso also had eight rebounds, and a game-high seven assists as Worcester State avenged a loss to the Vikings from earlier in the week (88-82). Ryan Rubenskas (Bridgewater, Mass.) – 19 points, seven rebounds and Tayjaun McKenzie (Boston, Mass.) -11 points played a key role in Worcester State's win. 

Sean Bryan (Lowell, Mass.) scored at least 30 points for the third time this season, going 8-of-15 from the field (53.3%) and aded six rebounds and five assists. Conner Byrne (Melrose, Mass.) chipped in with 15 points and 11 rebounds while  Jaden Castillo (Lawrence, Mass.) – 12 points, four assists and Josiah Green (Springfield, Mass.) – 10 points also reached double digits in scoring  for Salem State.

Both teams shot over 50% in the first half with Salem State going 8-13 (61.5%) from behind the arc. Playing a tightly contested game over the first 10 minutes, the Vikings opened up a ten-point advantage following a three-pointer by Juvens Louis (Everett, Mass.) with 7:43 left in the first half. Worcester State crept to within a point after a Cardoso bucket, but a jumper by Conner Byrne pushed the lead back to three. Sam Dion (Barre, Mass.) then tied the game for the Lancers, knotting the game at 40-all. The game remained even before Dion's third three-pointer of the first half gave Worcester State a 49-46 lead with :07 second left before halftime. However, Castillo launched a trey from just in front of halfcourt, banking in his ninth point of the half as the two teams remained tied at 49-all heading into halftime.

The Lancers were 6-13 (46.2%) in three-point attempts.

Cardoso had 15 points after halftime and his layup gave the Lancers a two-point advantage 56-54 with 16:43 to go in the second. Salem State, which shot just 12-of-37 (32.4%) from the floor after halftime took a three-point lead following a made layup by Conner Byrne. A 14-3 run by the Lancers broke open a close game with 11 straight points coming from Rubenskas as Worcester State led 70-61 with 10:32 left.

Trailing 88-83, Green's three-pointer drew the Vikings to within five before two free throws by Zion Hendrix (Charlotte, N.C.) gave the Lancers a comfortable 90-83 lead with :22 seconds remaining. However, seven quick points, including a four-point play by Green brought Salem State to within three, 90-87 with seven second left, but Cardoso iced the game from the foul line as Worcester State held on for a 92-87 win.