By Jim Fenton, The Enterprise (Brockton)
BRIDGEWATER, Mass. -- The Bridgewater State University men’s basketball team was in need of a lift during its Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference opener.
Sophomore point guard Rocky DeAndrade provided the necessary spark during the second half to key a 52-43 victory over Framingham State on Saturday afternoon at the Tinsley Center.
DeAndrade scored all of his 15 points in the final 15:11 to lead the shorthanded Bears past the Rams for their first two-game winning streak of the season.
“Rocky had a great second half,’’ said coach Joe Farroba, whose team is 5-8. “He was really solid. He was big time. He was the one that really separated us.’’
The Bears have lost seven players, including three starters, to ankle and knee injuries since the preseason.
Forward Joseph Carty (12.2 points, 10.7 rebounds) was the latest to go down last week and will be sidelined into February.
Despite that, BSU is 1-0 in the MASCAC after getting past the Rams (3-10, 0-2).
The game was even at 24 four minutes into the second half when DeAndrade scored his first points with 15:11 remaining.
Later in the half, BSU went on a 12-2 run to open a 47-34 lead with 4:17 remaining. DeAndrade had five points, two steals and an assist in that spree.
The Mansfield High graduate was joined in double figures by Michael Soares, making his fifth start, with 10 points to go with eight rebounds.
Greg Romanko had 10 rebounds, seven points, two blocked shots and two steals.
“Everybody contributed in their own way,’’ said Farroba. “It’s a good win. We really grinded it out. The team was real gritty today.
“Given our circumstances right now with the injuries, the first league game, I’m very, very pleased with the effort.’’
BSU held a 22-18 halftime lead as the teams combined to make only 14 of 49 shots in the opening 20 minutes.
After taking the 13-point lead in the second half, the Bears had the edge sliced to six with less than two minutes to go, but four DeAndrade foul shots and one by Ryan Carney of Easton sealed the win.
Framingham State made only 30 percent of its shots and went 3-for-26 from 3-point range.
BSU, which is down to 10 healthy players, travels to Fitchburg State on Wednesday night.
Farroba will need to keep getting strong performances throughout the lineup with Carty and Conor Dunleavy sidelined.
“What I try to sell is we’ve established a pretty good program now,’’ said Farroba, “and these guys are in charge of the legacy now. I try to appeal to that.
“There are kids who have played on a (MASCAC) championship team and you appeal to them that you’ve got to dig down a little deeper and keep the program going.’’