Horton Records 30 Points in 82-75 Comeback Win over Nichols

Worcester State 82, Nichols 75

Box Score

Worcester, MA --- Junior Maurice Horton (Detroit, MI) tallied a season-best 30 points while pulling down 13 rebounds to lead Worcester State to an 82-75 victory over Nichols this evening at Lancer Gymnasium.

The win improves the Lancers to 1-3 while the Bison dip to 2-3. WSC is now 51-30 all-time against Nichols since they started playing in 1960.

Horton scored 22 of his 30 points and grabbed seven of his 13 boards in the second half alone while he went 12-for-17 from the charity stripe. Junior Elijah Sims (Worcester, MA) contributed 12 of his 23 points in the second period with three steals. Classmate Darren Schmidt (Shelburne Falls, MA) pulled down eight rebounds while Brandon Fortes (Pawtucket, RI) notched eight points.

Senior Jeff Lindgren (Sturbridge, MA) paced four Nichols teammates who scored in double-figures. Lindgren recorded 19 points while classmate John Costello (Tolland, CT) and sophomore Chris Smith (Moosup, CT) each corralled eight rebounds. Costello added 12 points while junior Ryan Wilcox (West Granby, FL) and freshman Pete Atkins (Gainsville, FL) each chipped in with 15 and 11 points, respectively, off the bench for the Bison.

The Lancers opened the game going 6-for-18 from the field and 0-for-6 from beyond the arc as Nichols built up a 32-15lead with seven minutes left in the first half. To close out the period, Worcester State went on a 16-4 run to cut into the lead with the visitors ahead 39-31 at the break.

To start the second stanza Costello hit back-to-back jumpers to bring the scoring margin back up to a ten point lead (43-33), but WSC held the Bison to just two free throws over the next 2 ½ minutes of play. A three pointer by freshman Raheem Lewis (Whitinsville, MA) put the Lancers within one with just under 16 minutes left in the game (45-44).

A Lindgren layup to made the score 49-44, but Worcester State embarked on a 16-4 run to take the lead and go up 60-53 with nine minutes left to go in the half. The Lancers took the lead and went up three points as Sims converted two field goals at the 10:18 mark (56-53).

WSC built the lead as far as 71-62 with four minutes left to play in the game, but Nichols wouldn’t go away as they clawed their way back to two on a trey by Wilcox with 76 ticks left on the clock. After Horton sank two free throws with 51 seconds left, Atkins hit a jump shot to get within two again, but the Lancers scored five unanswered points to seal the victory.

The difference in the game was how each team shot the ball in the two halves. In the opening period Nichols shot 52% from the floor while Worcester State hit at a 29.7% (11-for-37) clip from the field. In the second half the Lancers held the visitors to 38% inside the arc while WSC connected for 47% (18-for-38) of their attempts.

Both teams were even in rebounding margin (41-41) while the Blue and Gold shot just 18% (3-for-16) from beyond the three point line. Worcester State scored 24 second chance points while also taking advantage of 21 Nichols miscues with 24 points off of turnovers.

Both teams will play night games on Thursday. WSC will travel to take on Clark at 7 PM while Nichols entertains NESCAC foe Connecticut College at 8.