Drayton finishes with game best 21 points for the Green & Gold

Brooklyn, NY – The Fitchburg State men's basketball team registered an 85-73 victory over the Cougars of Medgar Evers this evening in non-conference action from the Cougars Cave.

The Basics

Score: Fitchburg State 85, Medgar Evers 73

Records: Fitchburg State (2-9, 0-0 MASCAC) | Medgar Evers (2-10, 0-0 CUNYAC)

How It Happened

First Half

Medgar Evers jumped out a 7-0 advantage on seven straight points from senior Joash Beaton (Brooklyn, NY) before Fitchburg State answered back as sophomore Matthew Drayton (Boston, MA) connected on a layup and a three-pointer to make the score 13-8.

The Cougars upped the lead to 20-14 with a layup from junior Ahmed Toure (Bronx, NY), but the Falcons responded with a dunk by junior Duvall Price (Lanham, MD) (22-21). The hosts pushed to margin to 32-25 when senior Andre Evans Jr (Bronx, NY sank a free-throw.

Medgar Evers extended the lead (34-26) with a layup by Toure before the Green and Gold closed the first half on a 9-0 run on three buckets from sophomore Jalen Jackson (San Antonio, TX) and a three ball by junior Nicolas Von Zboray (Pollock Pines, CA) to give the Falcons a 43-36 edge going into the break.

Second Half

Following the intermission, Fitchburg State upped the margin (46-39) as Drayton drained a three-pointer and Jackson converted a layup and free-throw, but Medgar Evers trimmed the deficit to 49-44 when junior Daniel McCollum (Bronx, NY) drained a three-ball.

The Green and Gold upped the advantage (54-44) as junior Jeremiah Simeon (Norwalk, CT) netted a layup, but McCollum registered another three-pointer to reduce the lead to 54-47. The Falcons answered back with a 10-0 run, capped by a jumper from sophomore Joshua Jean Charles (Dorchester, MA) for the 64-47 margin.

The Cougars rallied to trim the deficit to 71-65 with Toure netting a layup before Fitchburg State secured the victory as Price notched a layup, resulting in the 85-73 final.

Inside the Numbers

• Drayton led the way for the Falcons with a game best 21 points, one rebound, three assists, one steal and one block
• Price and Jackson chipped in with 14 points each for the Green and Gold
• For the Cougars, McCollum finished with a team-leading 18 points, one board and one assist
• Toure added 17 points, 11 caroms, two assists, three blocks and two steals
• First ever meeting between Fitchburg State and Medgar Evers on the basketball court with the Falcons 1-0 all-time when taking on the Cougars
• Fitchburg State shot 34-for-69 (49.3%) from the field and (8-of-25) 32.0% from three point range
• Medgar Evers finished 28-of-72 (38.9%) overall and (5-for-21) 23.8% for beyond the arc
• The Falcons held a 50-39 edge on the glass

Up Next

Falcons return to action on Saturday as they travel to Vermont State Castleton to take on the Spartans in non-conference action, starting at 1:00PM.

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