Semedo and Von Zboray net team-best 18 points each for Green & Gold

Fitchburg, MA – The Fitchburg State men's basketball team registered a 95-72 victory over the Lynx of Lesley University this evening in non-conference action from the Parkinson Gymnasium.

The Basics

Score: Fitchburg State 95, Lesley 72

Records: Fitchburg State (1-8, 0-0 MASCAC) | Lesley (3-6 0-0 NAC)

How It Happened

First Half

With the score knotted at 11-11, Fitchburg State grabbed a 15-11 edge as senior Nathaniel Semedo (Bridgewater, MA) registered a layup and sophomore Braeden White (Spencer, MA) added a jumper. The Falcons pushed the advantage to 20-14 with junior Nicolas Von Zboray (Pollock Pines, CA) connected on a three ball and jumper before Lesley took a 22-20 lead when senior Malachi Howard (Winter Haven, FL) netted back-to-back buckets.

The Lynx upped the margin to 31-28 with Howard converting a layup and free-throw, but the Falcons responded as sophomore Alex Moemeka (West Hartford, CT) and newcomer Jackson Oliver (Douglas, MA) netted baskets for the 32-31 edge.

The visitors regained the advantage (34-32) as sophomore Austin Hamilton (Stafford, VA) knocked down a three-pointer before the Green and Gold answered back when sophomore Jackson Owens (Buford, GA) and Von Zboray buried three-balls for the 38-34 lead. Lesley trimmed the lead to 38-37 going into the break when newcomer Tavon Rhodes (Dorchester, MA) notched an and one.

Second Half

Following the intermission, the two teams traded baskets over the first five minutes of the contest before Fitchburg State pushed the lead to 54-49 when sophomore Jalen Jackson (San Antonio, TX) notched a free-throw.

The Falcons upped the margin to 63-53 on layups from White and Von Zboray, but Lesley reduced the margin to 66-57 on a Kai Burridge (New York, NY) free-throw and three ball. The Green and Gold extended the advantage to 74-60 as junior Jalin Pitts (Palatka, FL) and Jackson hit buckets before the Lynx answered back on a layup by junior CJ Leonard (Raynham, MA) to make the score 75-62.

Lesley cut the lead to 85-69 on a Burridge layup, but Fitchburg State secured the victory as Von Zboray drilled a three-ball, resulting in the 95-72 final.

Inside the Numbers

• Semedo led the way for the Falcons with a team-best 18points, five boards, two assists and one steal
• Von Zboray chipped in with 18 points and two caroms
• For the Lynx, Howard finished with a game-best 23 points, ten rebounds and two blocks
• Rhodes added 14 points, seven caroms and one steal
• Tenth meeting between Fitchburg State and Lesley on the basketball court with the Falcons 5-5 all-time when taking on the Lesley
• Fitchburg State shot 36-for-76 (47.4%) from the field and (7-of-24) 29.2% from three point range
• Lesley finished 26-of-64 (40.6%) overall and (3-for-18) 16.7% for beyond the arc
• The Falcons held a 47-41 edge on the glass

Up Next

Falcons return to action on Saturday as they travel to Regis to take on the Pride in non-conference action, starting at 6:00PM.

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