FRAMINGHAM, Mass. – Junior guard Tim McCarthy (Wilmington, Mass.) poured in a career-high 28 points including the go ahead three-pointer in overtime as the Framingham State University men's basketball team outlasted Bridgewater State University, 76-68, in overtime this afternoon in Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) action at the Athletic Center.
With the win, the Rams improve to 6-14 on the year and are now 1-8 in the conference, while the loss drops the Bears to 14-7 overall and 7-2 in the MASCAC.
McCarthy led all scorers with his 28 points on 10-of-12 from the floor including 4-of-5 from long range. In the opening half, McCarthy went 6-for-6 from the floor with a pair of threes en route to 15 first half points. Junior Joe McCabe (Canton, Mass.) chipped in with a double double effort of 15 points and 10 boards, while sophomore Daniel Gould (Quincy, Mass.) came off the bench to score 13 points including 4-of-5 from the line.
The Bears were led by a double-double effort from senior forward Michael Lofton (Mansfield, Mass.). Lofton connected on 7-of-13 from the floor for 21 points and grabbed a game-high 17 boards including seven on the offensive end. Classmate Barrett Murphy (Marshfield, Mass.) shot 50% from the floor en route to 17 points, while senior Kyle Gibson (Franklin, Mass.) added 13 and six boards.
The Rams used their hot shooting in the first half to open up an 11 point lead, 30-19, late in the frame on a three by McCabe, but the Bears closed the half with a mini run and cut the deficit down to six at the break (37-31) as they were led by 11 points from Lofton.
The second half mirrored the first with the Rams extending the lead to 13 (55-42) on a Patrick Cuff (Medway, Mass.) bucket with just over nine minutes remaining. The Bears again countered with a 16-5 run over the next six minutes to pull within two (60-58) on a pair of Lofton free throws.
A three-point play from sophomore Matt Diver (Abington, Mass.) pushed the Rams lead back to five with two minutes remaining. A pair of Murphy free throws and a Gibson jumper in the paint sandwiched a McCarthy free throw to put Bears back within two (64-62) with 1:36 left. Gibson would tie the game after a Ram turnover with another jumper and had a good look at a three-pointer in the waning seconds but was unable to convert as the game went overtime.
In the extra session, the two team traded hoops before McCarthy nailed a long three after missing a pair of free throws to put the Rams on top for good with 1:07 left. The Rams started the overtime 0-for-6 from the line, but sank 7-of-8 including 4-of-4 from Gould in the final 47 seconds to secure the victory.
The Rams are back in action Tuesday evening when they travel to MCLA for a MASCAC contest beginning at 7:30 p.m., while the Bears return to conference action on Tuesday evening at Worcester State at 8 p.m.