Preview: "Men's Basketball Starts Quest For Title In MASCAC Quarterfinals"

ON THE WEB

You can follow this Tuesday's 7 PM MASCAC men's basketball quarterfinal round match-up against third-seeded Fitchburg State and #6 Worcester State on Video and Livestats.

THE SERIES

Since 1950, Worcester State has a 92-38 all-time lead in the series and this season the Blue and Gold posted a 79-72 victory over their regional counterparts at home and a 54-52 win on the road last week.

In the postseason, the Lancers are 4-0 against the Falcons, but are winless as the sixth seed (0-3) and have just three wins on the road (3-16). WSU defeated last defeated Fitchburg State in the MASCAC Tournament quarterfinals during the 2009-10 season at home in a 72-64 triumph.

Should Worcester State advance to the next round, the Blue and Gould would earn their 17th berth to the MASCAC Tournament semifinals.

THE LANCERS

Despite limiting conference opponents to 66.4 points per game, the Lancers have struggled to a 6-19 overall record with a 3-9 slate in MASCAC play. Four of WSU's nine setbacks in league play have come by six or fewer points.

Sophomore Paul Brooks (Arlington, MA) leads the club with 12.2 points per game, 9.8 rebounds and a .576 field goal percentage (140-for-243). With a single-season record of 73 blocks to his credit for the fifth highest sum and average in the NCAA Division III (2.92 BPG).

Senior Brendan Rios (Easthampton, MA) and sophomore Marquez McKreith-Collins (Springfield, MA/Cathedral) both average 10.8 PPG and 10.3 PPG, respectively, while senior Charles Gunter (Boston, MA/New Misson) has done a little bit of everything with 9.6 points, 6.4 rebounds, 1.9 assists and 1.5 swipes in 25 contests.

21st year head coach Dave Lindberg picked up his 250th career victory in their home triumph against Fitchburg State on January 24.

THE FALCONS

Fitchburg State (14-11, 6-6 MASCAC) has had an intriguing 2014-15 campaign. FSU started their season on a tear with a 11-3 record through January 13, but then hit a four-game road block.

After posting three straight wins to start off the month of February, the Falcons enter the conference playoffs on a four-game drought, including a 78-72 loss against Westfield State to close out the season this past Saturday.

Four on the Green and Gold average double-figure scoring including Junior Kwame Lee (Brockton, MA) (13.3 PPG), classmate Keyon Armstrong (Brockton, MA) (12.0 PPG), junior Givaughn Jones (Dorchester, MA) (11.5 PPG) and third-year teammate Anthonoy Muccioli (Nashua, NH) (11.1 PPG).  Jones leads the club with 72 assists (2.9 APG) and Lee averages 7.0 boards per game for the fourth-best total in the MASCAC.

Second-year head coach Titus Manderson has helped the program post a winning record after going 2-22 overall and 2-10 in league play.

MASCAC MEN'S BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT - 25TH ANNIVERSARY EDITION

The winner of Tuesday's contest moves to Thursday's semifinal round to take on #2 Bridgewater State at 7:30 PM.

On the other side of the MASCAC Tournament bracket, top-seeded Westfield State takes on the winner of the other quarterfinal matchup between #4 Salem State and fifth-seeded MCLA on Thursday at 7:30.

The winners of the two semifinal games do battle in the 25th MASCAC Tournament Championship game at the highest remaining seed.

Fitchburg State won every game on the road as the sixth seed to hoist the 2012-13 crown for their first ever title. Worcester State's only title came during the 1993-94 campaign under the guidance of current Quinnipiac head coach Tom Moore.